While we are all waiting for the next big steps in the world of humanoid robots, Elon Musk has once again stirred up a storm on social media by releasing a new video of the Optimus robot. At first glance, this video shows astonishing progress in performing an everyday task, but the discovery of a small yet crucial detail has turned it into the center of a major controversy: Is Optimus really doing this task on its own?

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A Simple Task, a Big Claim

In the new video that Elon Musk proudly shared on the social network X (formerly Twitter), the Optimus robot is seen doing something that is tedious even for many humans: folding a t-shirt. The robot picks up the garment from a basket and folds it on a table with movements that appear smooth and precise.

Musk wrote in the video's description:

"Optimus folds a shirt. (It is not yet fully autonomous, but will be able to perform this task completely independently in any environment soon)."

This claim that the robot would soon achieve full autonomy in this task was exciting, but sharp-eyed users quickly noticed something that cast doubt on the whole story.

A Shadow of Doubt: A Hidden Hand in the Corner of the Frame

The controversy began when users looked at the video more carefully. In the upper right corner of the screen, a human hand is visible for a few moments, seemingly performing the same folding motions. This hand, wearing a black glove, precisely mimics the movements of the robot's hand.

This observation quickly fueled the hypothesis that the robot in this video is not acting autonomously but is being controlled remotely by a human operator (teleoperation). In other words, a human behind the scenes is guiding the robot's movements in real time, likely using VR equipment or motion sensors.

Contradiction in Claims and Reactions

This issue is significant because it contradicts Elon Musk's repeated claims about Optimus's complete autonomy. Critics argue that by editing out parts of the video that show human control, Tesla is misleading its audience and investors. They say presenting a remotely controlled robot as an AI achievement is not honest.

This is not the first time such suspicions have been raised about Tesla's demos. Similar debates have existed before regarding videos of the Full Self-Driving (FSD) capability.

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A Marketing Stunt or a Real Step Forward?

This new video raises important questions about Optimus's development path. Was this merely a clever marketing stunt to attract attention? Or is it part of the robot's learning process, where it first mimics human movements and later performs them independently?

Whatever the truth, this controversy shows that the tech community is watching Elon Musk's grand claims with much greater scrutiny and skepticism and will no longer easily believe every demonstration.

What do you think? Is this level of "staging" acceptable in the development of a new technology, or does it cross the line of honesty? Share your thoughts with us.

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