Tesla Slammed for ‘Dystopian’ Christmas Robot Post

Key Takeaways

• On Dec. 24, Tesla posted an image of two Optimus robots wearing Christmas sweaters and Santa hats on X.
• The humanoid bot has divided opinion.
• Critics of Tesla’s recent post decried it as “dystopian.”

Tesla has faced online backlash after posting a festive X post featuring two Optimus robots wearing Christmas sweaters.

While some Optimus fans welcomed Tesla’s holiday spirit, others described the post as unsettling and dystopian.

A Glimpse into a Robotic Future

Tesla’s Optimus has been marketed as a breakthrough in robotics with potential use cases spanning industrial, commercial, and even at-home use cases.

In November, CEO Elon Musk predicted a future in which humanoid bots become an integral part of everyday life.

Meanwhile, although Optimus models aren’t yet commercially available, consumer interest in the machines is high.

For example, when a $40 Optimus action figure was listed on Tesla’s website earlier this month, it sold out in minutes.

However, not everyone has embraced the prospect of welcoming humanoid bots into their homes.

Mixed Reactions Online

After Tesla posted its Christmas message, fans flooded the comments, with many tagging Elon Musk to share their appreciation.

Meanwhile, the Daily Mail labeled the post “dystopian”.

The Mail’s sentiment reflects a general suspicion of the uncanny humanoid bots outside of the Tesla fandom.

Tesla Optimus Criticism

Vice described a recent demonstration of Tesla’s robot as “creepy” and reported on Optimus’ interactions with celebrities at the event.

Many observers have also noted Optimus’ resemblance to the robots in the 2004 science fiction film I, Robot.

The film’s director, Alex Proyas, even weighed in on X, posting a series of side-by-side images with the caption: “Hey Elon, Can I have my designs back, please?”

As well as the robots themselves, Proyas’ post also highlighted similarities between vehicles seen in his film and prototypes of Tesla’s robotaxi and robovan.