Turns out Tesla’s humanoid robots still need a helping hand—literally.

At the company’s recent “We, Robot” event, held alongside the unveiling of its Cybercab robotaxi, Tesla made headlines by showcasing its Optimus robots mingling with guests, serving drinks, and even chatting with attendees. But according to multiple sources, those eye-catching demos were not entirely autonomous.

While Elon Musk presented the robots as advanced examples of AI and robotics, observers quickly noticed some inconsistencies. Tech personality Robert Scoble, who attended the event, posted on X that the Optimus robot serving him a drink was being controlled remotely by a human. A Tesla representative, or perhaps the robot itself, even hinted that it couldn’t fully disclose how much of its actions were AI-driven—“it might be some,” the robot allegedly said.

Analyst Adam Jonas from Morgan Stanley later confirmed in a note that the robots were “not operating entirely autonomously,” and instead were relying on tele-operations to perform tasks like serving drinks and interacting with guests.

Tesla’s Track Record With Robot Demos

This isn’t the first time Tesla has pushed the boundaries of showmanship. A previous Optimus presentation featured a human in a robot suit, leading many to question how far the company has actually progressed with its AI ambitions.

At the Cybercab event, different robot voices were reportedly used, suggesting that multiple humans may have been controlling the bots individually. While Tesla didn’t exactly try to hide the fact that the robots weren’t acting on their own, the presentation still raised eyebrows about the real capabilities of the Optimus project.

The event was seen by some as an effort to reassure investors following delays in Tesla’s robotaxi program. The company unveiled both the two-person Cybercab and a surprise Robovan, but investor response was lukewarm. Tesla’s stock fell by 9 percent the next day.

Adding to the controversy, film director Alex Proyas, who made I, Robot, accused Tesla of copying the visual designs from his movie for its Optimus, Cybercab, and Robovan concepts—yet another PR complication for Musk’s ambitious AI rollout.

Conclusion: Optimus Still Has a Long Way to Go

While the dream of a fully autonomous humanoid robot is still alive, Tesla’s latest demo suggests that Optimus is more concept than reality—at least for now.