It positive looks as if the Optimus robots at Tesla’s occasion had been beneath human management

We didn’t be taught a lot new from Tesla’s Robotaxi occasion final evening, however one piece of data we had been trying ahead to was a bit data on Optimus, Tesla’s humanoid robotic. And we received some, however it’s perhaps rather less flattering to Tesla than some might need preferred.

After unveiling the Robotaxi/Cybercab and Robovan, Tesla CEO Elon Musk went on to present us a bit bit of data on the Optimus humanoid robotic that the corporate has been engaged on.

Musk talked about “we began up with somebody in a robotic go well with, after which we’ve progressed dramatically yr after yr” as a number of robots walked out in entrance of the gang.

He referred to those as “your individual private R2D2 C3-PO,” and that in the long run, these robots would value lower than a automobile – particularly, ~$20k-$30k. A video additionally described them as an “autonomous assistant, humanoid buddy” which may very well be used for mainly any process you possibly can consider.

Musk stated that Optimus can be “the largest product of any form, ever” and figured everybody on Earth would need one or two of them, which is language he has used earlier than (nevermind that many of the 8 billion individuals on Earth should not have the wealth to afford one new automobile, a lot much less two). He additionally stated that it might lead to an “age of abundance” the place the price of the whole lot would drop dramatically.

However past all that, Tesla took this occasion as a chance to debut Optimus in entrance of – and amongst – a stay viewers. Musk stated:

One of many issues we wished to indicate tonight was that Optimus just isn’t a canned video, it’s not walled-off. The Optimus robots will stroll amongst you. Please be good to the Optimus robots. So that you’ll have the ability to stroll proper as much as them… and so they’ll serve drinks on the bar, and also you’ll straight… I imply it’s a wild expertise simply to have humanoid robots and so they’re there, simply in entrance of you.

He then ended his speech by throwing to a gaggle of humanoid robots dancing in a gazebo (not in contrast to a video made by Honda ten years in the past…), and attendees had been certainly capable of work together with these robots in particular person.

Tesla’s occasion stream continued by exhibiting movies of the social gathering, together with some movies of friends interacting with robots. The robots waved, handed out goodie luggage, served drinks, posed for images, walked via the gang, and even performed rock paper scissors (although, once more, not in addition to this robotic with a 100% winrate from 12 years in the past).

The robots did all have a Tesla worker “minder” watching them intently, however visibly holding some kind of signaling machine of their hand. Within the video, you possibly can see one of many workers working this machine.

The official Tesla video (which had no audio, as music was taking part in over it) additionally confirmed a number of robots serving drinks, although these weren’t customized blended drinks, merely two decisions of pre-mixed drinks served from beer faucets. The robots appeared to take action efficiently sufficient, although they had been considerably wobbly whereas serving the drinks (see right here), which appeared odd – as if the robots weren’t all that nice at balancing themselves, or their motions weren’t correctly damped or one thing.

However then, attendees began posting movies from the occasion, and one thing appeared… off.

There may be one widely-shared video of an worker seeming to set off Musk’s Robotaxi departure from a cellphone – however that’s comprehensible sufficient, on condition that Waymo’s currently-operating Stage 4 taxis interface with the rider’s cellphone to unlock the automobile and begin a journey as effectively, and it is sensible from a stage administration perspective of preserving the occasion operating on cue (albeit 40+ minutes late).

However the stranger movies had been of direct interactions with the Optimus robots that “walked amongst us” within the crowd.

It seems the robots every had a voice and may very well be talked to. So, you may make a drink order, and even simply have a dialog with the robots that had been strolling the gang.

What Tesla is doing with Optimus is insane. It’s actually the robotic from iRobot starring Will Smith. #WeRobot pic.twitter.com/zM9pkkyOCu

— Austin (@AustinPlanet) October 11, 2024

In dialog, the robots had been impressively reasonable of their conversational tone, responding rapidly and with pure speech. We’ve seen some fascinating developments on this respect from ChatGPT 4o, with pure intonation, however you possibly can nonetheless inform that there’s one thing robotic happening there.

However maybe they had been too spectacular, as a result of these conversations definitely appear to have a human on the opposite aspect of them.

He didn’t even ask for a tip!@Tesla_Optimus #teslabot #werobot pic.twitter.com/4r0ONZSk11

— Kim Java (@ItsKimJava) October 11, 2024

Every of the robots we’ve seen had a unique voice, and a unique accent – although largely California or Texas accents, the 2 places the place Tesla has important presence. One even reportedly spoke Spanish, impressing one attendee, although conversational Spanish can be not notably unusual within the areas the place Tesla operates, so the worker behind the scenes might effectively simply be bilingual.

This video, particularly, of a robotic speaking concerning the geography of the Bay Space, is a enjoyable one. Not solely does the robotic make a really human error when it asks whether or not the attendee lives within the “Santa Clarita” space close to San Jose (it’s Santa Clara – Santa Clarita is in Southern California, not the Bay Space), it additionally hears a non-standard pronunciation “Los Gatos” after which responds with a extra widespread one.