Enlarge / The walking Optimus prototype demonstrated at the AI Day 2022 event. (credit: Tesla)

Today at Tesla's "AI Day" press event, Tesla CEO Elon Musk unveiled an early prototype of its Optimus humanoid robot, which emerged from behind a curtain, walked around, waved, and "raised the roof" with its hands to the beat of techno music.

It was a risky reveal for the prototype, which seemed somewhat unsteady on its feet. "Literally the first time the robot has operated without a tether was on stage tonight," said Musk. Shortly afterward, Tesla employees rolled a sleeker-looking Optimus model supported by a stand onto the stage that could not yet stand on its own. It waved and lifted its legs. Later, it slumped over while Musk spoke.

The entire live robot demonstration lasted roughly seven minutes, and the firm also played a demonstration video of the walking Optimus prototype slowly picking up a box and putting it down, slowly watering a plant, and slowly moving metal parts in a factory-like setting—all while tethered to an overhead cable. The video also showed a 3D-rendered view of the world that represents what the Optimus robot can see.