This is "embodied intelligence": Tesla’s humanoid robot shows off dance moves
In a video posted on X on May 14, Tesla unveiled the latest development of its humanoid robot Optimus, showcasing advancements in what's known as "embodied intelligence" – the ability to move in a human-like and situationally aware manner. The 42-second clip shows the robot performing a fluid choreography of shuffle steps, ballet movements and smooth turns, accompanied by the caption: "Was just getting warmed up."
Within 24 hours, the clip had racked up over 44 million views and more than 4,500 comments. While Tesla presents the dance as evidence of progress in embodied intelligence, much of the community remains critical.
Reddit: "This is just for show"
On Reddit, the response from the robotics community is clear: most users remain unimpressed. Comments like "I already had a dancing toy robot 20 years ago" and "Why is it dancing instead of doing something useful?" reflect the prevailing sentiment. Some users have even questioned the authenticity of the footage, suggesting it might be CGI.
Chinese rival Unitree pulls ahead
Chinese robot manufacturer Unitree now appears to have overtaken Tesla in motion technology. Their G1 and H1 models demonstrate impressive human-like agility, as seen in recent videos featuring spinning kicks and combat techniques. Looking ahead, Unitree has announced a major highlight: at the upcoming "Iron Fist" event, two humanoid robots will face off in a live boxing match. Training footage has already been released, generating significant buzz – while Tesla continues to focus on dance routines.
Source(s)
Tesla Optimus via X (formerly Twitter)
