October 20, 2024 – The recent controversy surrounding Tesla’s humanoid robot, Optimus, due to its remote control during a demonstration, has sparked mixed reactions. While some analysts and investors have criticized the company for being “dishonest” and misleading, Rev Lebaredian, the Vice President of Nvidia’s Omniverse development platform and simulation, has come forward to defend Tesla’s artificial intelligence technology.
During Tesla’s self-driving taxi launch event last week, Optimus took the stage, performing tasks like dancing, pouring drinks, and interacting with attendees, appearing highly intelligent. However, it was later revealed by multiple media outlets that the robot was actually being remotely controlled by Tesla engineers.
Despite this revelation, Lebaredian, who has been with Nvidia for 23 years, believes that Optimus deserves more praise than criticism. “I’m not sure how much of it was remote-controlled, but I must say, even if it was, controlling a robot with that kind of precision requires very advanced AI technology,” he stated.
Lebaredian emphasized that Tesla’s demonstration of Optimus thus far has indeed showcased a genuine technological achievement. “People should be skeptical, which is normal for any new technology,” he said. “But mapping your controls to a robot’s behavior in the real world and interacting with other people around it is a huge step forward and should not be underestimated.”
In conclusion, while the revelation of remote control has raised questions about the true capabilities of Tesla’s humanoid robot, Lebaredian’s perspective highlights the significance of the underlying technology and its potential for future advancements.
