**Elon Musk's Optimus Robot Dazzles, Raises Questions About Autonomy**

At Tesla's "We, Robot" event on Thursday night, situated at the Warner Bros. studio lot in Hollywood, the main attraction turned out to be not its robo-taxi but Optimus, a humanoid robot designed to leave a lasting impression. This was a far cry from two years ago when the droid struggled to make it onto a stage independently. Now, a fleet of the robots navigated through the crowd, chatting with guests, playing rock-paper-scissors, and even pouring drinks, all while showing off their metallic peace signs.

Elon Musk, confident in Optimus' revolutionary potential, proclaimed it would be "the biggest product ever of any kind." He showcased the robot's advancements in real-time, emphasizing the on-site interaction over pre-recorded videos from Tesla's test facilities. "The Optimus robots will walk among you. Please be nice," Musk quipped, capturing the curiosity and excitement of the assembled audience.

Attendees, like John Stringer, founder of Tesla Owners Silicon Valley, marveled at the futuristic scene around them. Despite the enthusiasm, the robots were later revealed to be operated remotely by humans in special suits that converted their movements into actions for the robots. "Today I'm assisted by a human. I'm not yet fully autonomous," one operator confessed when questioned by a guest, evoking a sense of déjà vu from a previous controversy involving the robot.

Earlier in the year, Musk faced scrutiny for a video showing Optimus folding a shirt, where an operator's hand could be seen. On Thursday, no mention was made that the robots among the guests were essentially sophisticated puppets. Tesla co-founder Josh Wolfe expressed his disapproval, labeling the display as "totally dishonest."

Neither Tesla nor Musk responded to requests for clarification regarding the autonomy of the robots. Despite the controversy, Musk has high hopes for Optimus, predicting it could one day sell for as low as $20,000, cost half that to produce, and achieve sales of 100 million units annually. Musk even ventured that this could generate annual earnings of $1 trillion, potentially making it a $25 trillion business when considering a conservative multiple.

While some attendees, such as Tesla influencer Omar Qazi, praised the mechanical marvel, others like content creator Jeremy Judkins expressed disappointment over the lack of transparency. "I just wish Tesla was more open and honest at this event," Judkins said, summarizing the mixed reactions of many who were both awed and skeptical of the robot's true capabilities.