In a recently released promotional video, Tesla displayed its Optimus humanoid robot in what appeared to be fairly agile activities within the company’s factory. It showcased navigating the halls, lifting boxes, climbing stairs—and even pouring drinks. Turns out, the impressive performance may not have been as autonomous as it seemed. According to Gizmodo, much of the footage was significantly sped up to give the impression that the robot could do much more than it actually is capable of doing.
In the bottom right of the video, a small text box indicates that the footage has been accelerated, sometimes up to ten times its normal speed. Although not exactly concealed, such a choice in editing leaves one wondering just what Optimus is really capable of. All of this came shortly on the heels of allegations that the company had used human actors to pretend that robots working for them could speak autonomously during its “We, Robot” event.
Elon Musk, the CEO of Tesla, has great expectations for Optimus despite these obstacles. According to a recent tweet from him, the robot will enter “low production for Tesla internal use next year and, hopefully, high production for other companies in 2026.” But given that the robot’s capabilities are already being questioned, it’s doubtful that Tesla will be able to reach these lofty goals.
When Matt Novak of Gizmodo slowed down the video, it revealed the robot’s slow, deliberative motions in real time further proof of Optimus’ limits. Interestingly, in contrast to assertions of autonomy, the robot was also observed being powered from a source while carrying out routine operations like pouring drinks.
Tesla has been called out before for overhyping Optimus’ capabilities. In January, the company released another video in which the robot appeared to fold a shirt on a table. Musk later admitted that the robot was not acting autonomously but was instead teleoperated by a human.
While Tesla continues to promise future advancements for Optimus, the reliance on editing tricks and teleoperation suggests a long road ahead before true autonomy is achieved.
