'Not Yet Fully Autonomous': Tesla's Optimus Robots Stole the Show — But Were They Actually Controlled By Humans? Musk said the $20,000 to $30,000 robot could perform household tasks like mowing lawns and putting away groceries.

By Sherin Shibu Edited by Melissa Malamut

Key Takeaways

  • Elon Musk showed off Tesla's autonomous Optimus robots at Tesla's "We, Robot" event on Thursday.
  • When one event attendee asked an Optimus robot if it was being remote-controlled, the robot confirmed that it was being helped by a human.

At Tesla's "We, Robot" event on Thursday, CEO Elon Musk announced the upcoming Cybercab robotaxi and 20-seater, self-driving Robovan, but the grand finale was a line of Optimus robots.

Though Musk claimed that the humanoid robot was "the biggest product of any kind, ever," new reports show that the futuristic robots were remotely controlled by humans — and not as autonomous as they were pitched.

Musk said the $20,000 to $30,000 robot could perform household tasks like mowing lawns and getting groceries. One analyst estimated that every household would have one in the next three years.

Related: Elon Musk Announces the 'Cybercab' and Other Surprises at Tesla's 'We, Robot' Event. Here's What to Know.

"Whatever you can think of, it will do," Musk said.

Tesla's Optimus robots walked out into the crowd after the new Robovan reveal. It will be able to "babysit your kids, walk your dog," Elon Musk said
byu/Soloflow786 inrobotics

However, when one event attendee asked an Optimus robot if it was being remote-controlled, the robot said, "Today, I am assisted by a human. I'm not yet fully autonomous."

Humans appeared to be helping the Optimus robots perform tasks at the event. Electrek spotted that each robot had a Tesla employee with a signaling device nearby.

Tesla first announced plans to venture into autonomous robots in 2021; Musk has since said that Optimus could take Tesla to a $25 trillion market capitalization. Tesla was at a $700 billion market cap at the time of writing.

Critics wrote that the robots deserved to be called a "parlor trick" and that Tesla "misled millions" who didn't know the bots were being operated by humans.

Related: Tesla Sales Show Demand Could Be Speeding Up For Electric Cars

Wedbush analyst Dan Ives thought the event was "jaw-dropping" and "historical" and was optimistic about the robots. Tesla has yet to respond to reports of the AI being remotely assisted.

Sherin Shibu

Entrepreneur Staff

News Reporter

Sherin Shibu is a business news reporter at Entrepreneur.com. She previously worked for PCMag, Business Insider, The Messenger, and ZDNET as a reporter and copyeditor. Her areas of coverage encompass tech, business, strategy, finance, and even space. She is a Columbia University graduate.

Want to be an Entrepreneur Leadership Network contributor? Apply now to join.

Editor's Pick

Science & Technology

5 AI Books Top Entrepreneurs Are Reading in a Rush for 2025

Entrepreneurs must embrace AI or risk falling behind. Discover 2025's top 5 AI books to gain a competitive edge, featuring insights from "The Wolf is at the Door" and a free AI Success Kit.

Business News

Zillow Predicts These 10 Places Will Have the Hottest Housing Markets in 2025

Zillow predicted that the hottest housing market of 2025 will be Buffalo, New York. Here's why.

Business Ideas

70 Small Business Ideas to Start in 2025

We put together a list of the best, most profitable small business ideas for entrepreneurs to pursue in 2025.

Business News

These Are the 10 Highest-Paying Jobs That Only Require a 2-Year Degree — With Some Around $100,000 and Higher

People with two-year degrees may see career growth in the healthcare, aviation, and technology industries over the next 10 years, according to a new report.

Business News

Macy's Just Released the List of 66 Stores Closing This Year — Here's Where

Around 150 underproductive stores are set to close over the next three years.