Tesla Optimus bots were controlled by humans during the 'We, the Robots' event TechCrunch

During Tesla's “We, Robot” event last week, which TechCrunch covered late into the night, sources on the ground sent me a few videos of the automaker's Optimus humanoid robots walking around the party, dancing, mixing drinks and talking to guests. Most, if not all, of those in attendance were Tesla investors and fans, and so it wasn't surprising that the videos as well as the messages I received included glowing comments about how advanced the bots were.

I asked an investor, who sent me a video of an Optimus making various voice commands, whether he thought it was a remote control, or perhaps, incredibly, powered by Grok, Elon Musk's xAI's AI chatbot. He told me that he thought it actually enabled the Grok bot to converse with him. Did he ask the bot how it was able to talk to him? No, he said. He was very explosive.

That seems to have been the point for Tesla – to inspire wonder at a vision of the future. Others, including myself, weren't as surprised as it seemed at an event designed to spark excitement among investors and fans.

Bloomberg, The Verge, and other outlets reported that the bots were remotely controlled by humans, an easy enough conclusion that they all had distinct voices and that their responses and hand gestures were immediate and synchronized.

Morgan Stanley analyst Adam Jonas also wrote in a report that the bots “relied on tele-ops (human intervention).”

Sources familiar with the matter told Bloomberg that while the Optimus prototypes were able to operate without external control using AI, staff stationed there remotely oversaw many interactions between the bot and participants during the “We, the Robot” event.

At least one video of the event showed an Optimus bartender admitting to being “assisted by humans”.

The people controlling its bots raise questions about the technology's capabilities and whether they will be ready to go to market anytime soon at a price tag of around $20,000 to $30,000.

“As you can see, we started with someone in a robot suit, and then we've progressed dramatically over the years,” Musk said in remarks last week. “So if you extrapolate that, you'll have something really spectacular, something that anyone can own, so that you can have your own personal R2-D2. [or] C-3PO.”

“What can it do? It can do anything you want,” the executive continued. “It can be a teacher, babysit your kids. It can walk your dog, mow your lawn, get groceries, just be your friend.” Can, can serve drinks. Whatever you can think of, it will be.”

It turns out that many investors were incredulous at Tesla's song and dance (literally – the bots did a choreographed dance). Tesla stock hit 11% on Friday after the event, though that was likely in response to Musk's failure to provide insight into the near-term revenue strategy for the robotaxi as well as specific technological updates to the automaker's advanced driver assistance system FSD.

Some, however, don't bother bots controlled by humans behind the scenes.

“So what!” wrote Canaccord Genuity analyst George Gianarikas. In a note to clients on Monday.

“The efficiency and developmental progress demonstrated by the robot was off the charts,” the analyst said. “And, as Mr. Musk noted earlier, the robotics industry does not currently have a well-developed supply chain. This means that Tesla, with its in-house manufacturing expertise, battery expertise, motor design expertise, electronics know-how and mechanical engineering resources, has the potential to build a vertically integrated robotics behemoth over the long term.”