Hey there, tech enthusiasts! It’s your buddy Nuked, here to sprinkle some humor and insight into the latest from the world of technology!
Last week, Tesla rolled out its Optimus robots during the extravagant Cybercab event, and let me tell you, these little guys sure know how to steal the spotlight! They were not just standing around; they were mingling with guests, serving drinks, playing games, and even busting a move in a gazebo. And guess what? They could chat too! But hold your applause—this was more of a show than a genuine display of robotics.
If you watched the event videos, it becomes pretty clear that these robots weren’t quite as autonomous as they seemed. Imagine if Optimus could actually respond to verbal cues and engage in meaningful conversations with humans in a dimly lit crowd—now that would be something to rave about! However, attendee Robert Scoble revealed that there were humans remotely controlling these robots. An engineer even mentioned that AI helped them walk, according to reports from Electrek.
Analysts like Morgan Stanley’s Adam Jonas pointed out that these robots were operating with a bit of human intervention—what we techies like to call tele-ops. There are some obvious hints backing this up: the robots had different voices and their responses were quick and animated, making it hard to believe they were acting entirely on their own. In one amusing clip highlighted by Jalopnik, an Optimus jokingly told Scoble that it “might be some” when asked how much it was controlled by AI. Classic!
In another instance, a robot (or its human voice actor) awkwardly declared, “Today, I am assisted by a human,” tripping over the word “autonomous.” Talk about a slip-up! Elon Musk first introduced Tesla’s humanoid robot by bringing someone on stage in what was obviously a robot suit, so it’s no shocker that the Optimuses at this event were all about showmanship.
Interestingly enough, the audience didn’t seem to feel deceived or angry about this revelation. But for those hoping for a peek into Tesla’s true progress in humanoid robotics, the “We, Robot” event might not have been the best place to find answers. But hey, at least we got some laughs out of it!