Tesla workers balk at training Optimus humanoid robots as replacements

Woes of making robot workers Tesla workers balk at training Optimus humanoid robots as replacements Despite challenges, Tesla aims for 1,000 Optimus robots per week by end of 2026.

70 Tesla's Optimus Gen-3 humanoid robot at an exhibition in Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province, China on September 23, 2026. Credit: CFOTO/Future Publishing via Getty Images Tesla's Optimus Gen-3 humanoid robot at an exhibition in Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province, China on September 23, 2026. Credit: CFOTO/Future Publishing via Getty Images Text settings Story text Size Small Standard Large Width * Standard Wide Links Standard Orange * Subscribers only Learn more Minimize to nav Tesla’s pivot from making electric cars to humanoid robots is facing challenges because of complex robot hands and disgruntled employees pushing back against training their robotic replacements. The struggle to scale up production comes as Tesla CEO Elon Musk has bet the company’s future on AI and robotics.