We didn’t be taught a lot new from Tesla’s Robotaxi occasion final night time, however one piece of data we have been wanting ahead to was slightly info on Optimus, Tesla’s humanoid robotic. And we acquired some, however it’s perhaps rather less flattering to Tesla than some may need appreciated.
After unveiling the Robotaxi/Cybercab and Robovan, Tesla CEO Elon Musk went on to offer us slightly bit of data on the Optimus humanoid robotic that the corporate has been engaged on.
Musk talked about “we began up with somebody in a robotic swimsuit, after which we’ve progressed dramatically yr after yr” as a number of robots walked out in entrance of the gang.
He referred to those as “your personal private R2D2 C3-PO,” and that in the long run, these robots would price lower than a automobile – particularly, ~$20k-$30k. A video additionally described them as an “autonomous assistant, humanoid pal” which might be used for principally any job you possibly can consider.
Musk stated that Optimus could be “the most important product of any variety, ever” and figured everybody on Earth would need one or two of them, which is language he has used earlier than (nevermind that many of the 8 billion folks on Earth shouldn’t have the wealth to afford one new automobile, a lot much less two). He additionally stated that it will lead to an “age of abundance” the place the price of the whole lot would drop dramatically.
However past all that, Tesla took this occasion as a possibility to debut Optimus in entrance of – and amongst – a stay viewers. Musk stated:
One of many issues we needed to indicate tonight was that Optimus is just not a canned video, it’s not walled-off. The Optimus robots will stroll amongst you. Please be good to the Optimus robots. So that you’ll be capable of stroll proper as much as them… and so they’ll serve drinks on the bar, and also you’ll straight… I imply it’s a wild expertise simply to have humanoid robots and so they’re there, simply in entrance of you.
He then ended his speech by throwing to a bunch of humanoid robots dancing in a gazebo (not not like a video made by Honda ten years in the past…), and attendees have been certainly in a position to work together with these robots in individual.
Tesla’s occasion stream continued by exhibiting movies of the get together, together with some movies of visitors interacting with robots. The robots waved, handed out goodie luggage, served drinks, posed for pictures, walked via the gang, and even performed rock paper scissors (although, once more, not in addition to this robotic with a 100% winrate from 12 years in the past).
The robots did all have a Tesla worker “minder” watching them carefully, however visibly holding some form of signaling system of their hand. Within the video, you possibly can see one of many staff working this system.
The official Tesla video (which had no audio, as music was enjoying over it) additionally confirmed just a few robots serving drinks, although these weren’t customized blended drinks, merely two selections of pre-mixed drinks served from beer faucets. The robots appeared to take action efficiently sufficient, although they have been considerably wobbly whereas serving the drinks (see right here), which appeared odd – as if the robots weren’t all that nice at balancing themselves, or their motions weren’t correctly damped or one thing.
However then, attendees began posting movies from the occasion, and one thing appeared… off.
There may be one widely-shared video of an worker seeming to set off Musk’s Robotaxi departure from a telephone – however that’s comprehensible sufficient, on condition that Waymo’s currently-operating Degree 4 taxis interface with the rider’s telephone to unlock the automobile and begin a experience as effectively, and it is smart from a stage administration perspective of retaining the occasion working on cue (albeit 40+ minutes late).
However the stranger movies have been of direct interactions with the Optimus robots that “walked amongst us” within the crowd.
It seems the robots every had a voice and might be talked to. So, you might make a drink order, and even simply have a dialog with the robots that have been strolling the gang.
What Tesla is doing with Optimus is insane. It’s actually the robotic from iRobot starring Will Smith. #WeRobot pic.twitter.com/zM9pkkyOCu
— Austin (@AustinPlanet) October 11, 2024
In dialog, the robots have been impressively reasonable of their conversational tone, responding rapidly and with pure speech. We’ve seen some fascinating developments on this respect from ChatGPT 4o, with pure intonation, however you possibly can nonetheless inform that there’s one thing robotic occurring there.
However maybe they have been too spectacular, as a result of these conversations actually appear to have a human on the opposite facet of them.
He didn’t even ask for a tip!@Tesla_Optimus #teslabot #werobot pic.twitter.com/4r0ONZSk11
— Kim Java (@ItsKimJava) October 11, 2024
Every of the robots we’ve seen had a distinct voice, and a distinct accent – although largely California or Texas accents, the 2 places the place Tesla has important presence. One even reportedly spoke Spanish, impressing one attendee, although conversational Spanish can be not notably unusual within the areas the place Tesla operates, so the worker behind the scenes might effectively simply be bilingual.
This video, particularly, of a robotic speaking in regards to the geography of the Bay Space, is a enjoyable one. Not solely does the robotic make a really human error when it asks whether or not the attendee lives within the “Santa Clarita” space close to San Jose (it’s Santa Clara – Santa Clarita is in Southern California, not the Bay Space), it additionally hears a non-standard pronunciation “Los Gatos” after which responds with a extra widespread one.
Think about having a dialog with a @Tesla_Optimus
I had a full dialog with the Tesla bot. The longer term is right here. Can’t wait to see these across the streets, inside properties and in factories. pic.twitter.com/KIi3c5x4Gq
— Tesla Homeowners Silicon Valley (@teslaownersSV) October 11, 2024
One tech evangelist in attendance, Robert Scoble, says that he talked to an engineer on the occasion who informed him that Optimus was working on AI whereas strolling via the gang, however that in any other case there was human distant help.
I talked with an engineer.
When it walked that’s AI working Optimus.
It’s actual spectacular they introduced so many out in crowds at @tesla’s occasion. https://t.co/CtmCKPrL4T
— Robert Scoble (@Scobleizer) October 11, 2024
Certainly, most observers appear to assume that these was some degree of distant operation occurring throughout the occasion. Even Adam Jonas, Morgan Stanley’s analyst who covers Tesla and is often very bullish on the whole lot that Tesla broadcasts, stated in a notice this morning that: “It’s our understanding that these robots weren’t working completely autonomously – however relied on tele-ops (human intervention) so it was extra an indication of levels of freedom and agility.”
The upshot of all of that is that Tesla, as is commonly the case, appears to be enjoying quick and unfastened with the reality.
Whereas it could have fairly spectacular dexterity, and remote-operated robots might have some actual makes use of (for instance, placing remote-operated robots into harmful conditions the place human-like limbs and manipulation would however be helpful), Tesla as a substitute determined to obscure the actual details about the know-how they have been showcasing, suggesting that AI-driven robots would stroll among the many crowd when actually they have been counting on some quantity of distant operation.
And that simply leaves a bitter style in everybody’s mouth – or not less than, within the mouths of these whose info comes from someplace aside from the closely curated twitter algorithm.
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