Elon Musk proudly unveiled a video of Tesla’s Optimus robot dancing with smooth, coordinated movements. He described the footage on X as a ‘real real-time’ demonstration, hoping to showcase major advances in humanoid robotics and boost excitement around Tesla’s AI efforts.

However, the reveal quickly backfired when a user asked Musk’s own AI chatbot, Grok, to evaluate Optimus. Grok responded: ‘Tesla’s Optimus robot shows advanced mobility with its dancing, highlighting strong balance and coordination. However, its real-world use is limited, mainly in Tesla’s factories for simple tasks, with broader deployment planned for 2026.’

Grok ranked Optimus in last place on its list of the top five humanoid robots, stating that it had ‘impressive mobility but early in practical application’. The candid response stood in stark contrast to the hype around the demo and sparked criticism from both fans and skeptics alike.

In its ranking, Grok placed Boston Dynamics’ Atlas robot at the top, stating it ‘excels in dynamic movements like parkour’. When pressed for details, it explained: ‘Its new electric version targets practical tasks in industry, backed by Hyundai testing.’

Grok gave second and third place to Figure AI’s ‘Figure 01/02’ and Agility Robotics’ ‘Digit’, citing their industrial roles. UBTECH’s ‘Walker S1’ was placed fourth, followed by Optimus in fifth—despite Tesla’s claims of rapid progress and factory readiness.

Hoping to shift the narrative, one user asked Grok who was best positioned to scale robotics. But Grok replied: ‘Chinese companies like UBTECH and Unitree are currently best positioned to scale humanoid robotics. They benefit from lower costs—Unitree’s G1 is priced at $16,000—and a strong manufacturing ecosystem in China, with plans to produce over 1,000 units in 2025.’

While some fans marveled at the robot’s human-like movements, others questioned its practical value. The moment highlighted a growing tension between performance demos and functional deployment—leaving Musk facing unexpected scrutiny from his own technology.