### Tesla's Optimus Robots Dazzle at Cybercab Reveal Despite Teleoperation

Tesla made a striking impression with its Optimus robots during its recent Cybercab reveal, which was a grand, in-person affair. The robots actively engaged with the crowd, serving drinks, playing games, and even dancing inside a gazebo. A particularly eye-catching feature was their ability to hold conversations. However, the spectacle came with a catch.

Upon closer inspection, video footage from the event reveals that the robots' conversational abilities were largely part of an elaborate show. The notion that Optimus robots could autonomously respond to verbal and visual cues in real time would indeed be revolutionary. Playing charades with the robot added to this dazzling demonstration, leaving many to speculate on the level of human involvement behind the scenes.

Attendee Robert Scoble shared on social media that human operators were "remote assisting" the robots. He later supported this claim by mentioning an engineer’s confirmation that AI was used primarily for walking. Electrek picked up on this, and Morgan Stanley analyst Adam Jonas also noted in a report that human intervention, referred to as "tele-ops," was extensively employed.

Observant viewers pointed out several hints indicating teleoperation. The robots, for instance, exhibited different voices and their responses were flawlessly immediate, complete with matching gestures. It seems Tesla did not particularly aim to mislead anyone into believing that the robots were operating independently.

In a playful exchange captured on video, an Optimus robot humorously responded to Scoble’s inquiry about its AI control, saying, "it might be some." This light-hearted remark aligns with Elon Musk's initial announcement of the humanoid robot, which featured a person in a robot suit on stage.

While the attendees appeared to thoroughly enjoy the theatrical presentation, those looking for concrete evidence of Tesla's progress in humanoid robotics might have found the "We, Robot" event falling short of more informative expectations.