Tesla’s Optimus robot falls during live demo, triggering debate over teleoperation claims

Tesla’s humanoid robot Optimus is back in the spotlight, this time for all the wrong reasons. A viral video recorded at a Tesla event in Miami shows the robot losing balance and crashing head-first onto the floor, prompting fresh questions about Elon Musk’s claims of real-world AI autonomy.

The incident occurred during “Autonomy Visualized,” a showcase held inside a Tesla store. In the clip, Optimus attempts to pick up a water bottle but fails to grip it properly, knocking others off the table. Moments later, the robot raises its hands toward its head before tipping forward and collapsing.

That small gesture, the hands lifting as if reacting, is fuelling widespread speculation that the robot was being teleoperated by a human operator using a VR headset. Many viewers noted that the motion looked less like an AI-driven balance error and more like the moment a remote operator suddenly disengages control. Some users even suggested the operator may have removed the headset at that exact second, causing the robot to fall limp.

If true, the episode contradicts Musk’s repeated assertions that Optimus is powered primarily by autonomous AI reasoning, using perception and motor control systems derived from Tesla’s Full Self-Driving stack. Musk has previously showcased Optimus performing tasks such as kung fu drills, object handling and short sprints, presenting the robot as steadily progressing toward autonomous humanoid capabilities.