Tesla conducted a presentation of its humanoid Optimus robots in Miami, yet the outcome was not as successful as anticipated. One of the robots that was handing out water unexpectedly fell, raising concerns about the possible use of operators, reports Electrek.

In footage that quickly circulated online, an Optimus robot performs a strange motion resembling a person removing virtual reality goggles, before subsequently falling to the ground. This led many to speculate that Tesla may indeed be employing operators to control their humanoid robots.

During the initial unveiling of the Optimus robots in October 2024, it became clear that humans were actually operating them. However, earlier this year, Tesla's CEO Elon Musk claimed that the robots operated on artificial intelligence.

Despite Musk's assertions, most of Tesla's humanoid robot demonstrations were likely conducted under remote control rather than autonomously. Similar incidents occur in other companies, like Boston Dynamics, but there they are typically showcased as part of a training process rather than during official demonstrations.

Elon Musk continues to assert that Optimus will be Tesla's next major product. Nevertheless, despite these claims, the company halted mass production in October due to design issues.