TECH – Tesla recently showcased an updated version of its humanoid robot, dubbed Optimus 2.5, but new footage and reports suggest the robot is still far from achieving robust real-world performance. The version is clarified by CEO Elon Musk as an intermediate upgrade, not the long-promised version 3 intended to polish features rather than introduce a full generational leap.
Cited from Interesting Engineering, Optimus 2.5 was given voice-prompted commands via the Grok voice assistant. When asked, “Hey Optimus, where can I get a Coke?” the robot began a response, paused awkwardly, and then offered to lead the user to a kitchen instead, citing lack of real-time information. Movements after the prompt were slow, accompanied by mechanical noise. Musk reportedly interjected during the demo, saying the robot was “kind of paranoid about space,” and that more room should be given. Walking was slow, voices were delayed or clipped, and the robot’s ability to manipulate objects remained untested in the public display.
Visually, Optimus 2.5 presents cosmetic improvements. The newer model sports a sleeker shell, improved joint coverings, and seams that are less visible. The silhouette has shifted to a more rounded, human-friendly design, with softer edges and fewer exposed actuators. The appearance suggests Tesla is emphasising aesthetic refinement to improve environmental fit, rather than substantive technical breakthroughs.
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However, several engineering challenges remain. According to reports, the robot continues to suffer from issues of hand dexterity, production bottlenecks, and leadership turnover in the development team. Tesla had set aggressive production goals, including mass-production targets for coming years. Yet many observers argue the current iteration does not yet deliver reliable or independent task execution.
Tesla positions Optimus as central to its future roadmap, especially as work advances on automated systems and AI. But the latest version (2.5) underscores a broad gap between promotional hype and the current hardware/software capabilities. Demos show slow or limited autonomy; the “version 3” that Musk calls sublime has not yet appeared.
Despite the shortcomings, some incremental progress is apparent: improved physical design, voice interaction, and public visibility with grok voice integration. But the robot’s inability—at least in public demos—to perform basic tasks quickly or smoothly suggests further development is required, especially in mobility, perception, and control.
