Tesla Optimus's fall in Miami demo sparks remote operation debate

A recent Tesla demonstration of the Optimus humanoid robot in Miami captured attention when the robot fell during its presentation, exhibiting hand movements that resembled a human removing a VR headset. This unusual gesture, despite the robot not wearing any device, sparked debate about whether Optimus was operating autonomously or being remotely controlled via teleoperation. Observers and industry experts noted that such hand motions are typical of robots controlled through VR interfaces, leading to speculation that Tesla’s demonstration may not fully reflect independent robot autonomy. Elon Musk, however, has denied these claims, asserting that recent videos showing Optimus performing tasks like kung-fu are driven by AI rather than teleoperation. Tesla recently shared an update highlighting significant progress in Optimus’s balance, coordination, and gait, demonstrated through videos of the robot running and performing smoother movements compared to earlier, more unstable steps. Optimus stands 5 feet 11 inches tall, weighs about 160 pounds, and features highly dexterous hands with 11 degrees of freedom