Tesla’s Optimus bots said controlled by humans at Robotaxi event

Tesla’s (NASDAQ:TSLA) Optimus humanoid robot stole the show at last week’s Robotaxi event. The robots were dancing, serving drinks, and entertaining patrons. However, according to the robots themselves, and now confirmed by Bloomberg News, citing people familiar, they were being controlled remotely by humans.

In a video circulated on X by user @zhen9436, when he asked a bartending Optimus if it was being remote-controlled, the bot confirmed it. “Today, I’m assisted by a human,” the bot said. “I’m not yet fully autonomous.”

Tesla CEO Elon Musk is getting some heat for not disclosing that the bots were being controlled remotely by humans.

At the event, Musk said the Optimus bot could be Tesla’s largest product ever. “It can be a teacher, babysit your kids, it can walk your dog, mow your lawn, get the groceries, just be your friend, serve drinks,” Musk said about the bot. “Whatever you can think of, it will do.” Musk said the Optimus bot would, at some point in the future, be available to buy for less than the price of a car, or $20,000-$30,000 each.

Analyst George Gianarikas at Canaccord Genuity scoffed at criticism that the bots were being controlled by humans behind the scenes. “So What!” he exclaimed in a note to clients Monday.

“The dexterity shown and developmental progress exhibited by the robots were off the charts,” the analyst said. “And, as Mr. Musk has pointed out before, the robotics industry currently does not have a well developed supply chain. That means that Tesla, with its internal manufacturing acumen, battery expertise, proficiency in motor design, electronics know-how, and mechanical engineering resources has the potential to create a vertically integrated robotics behemoth over the long term.”