How Tesla’s Robots Delivered Drinks and Smiles: Linking Innovation to PR and Marketing Strategies in the Digital Age

Last week, Tesla CEO Elon Musk unveiled the latest version of the humanoid robot, Optimus, during the "We, Robot" event in California. The event captivated audiences as these robots danced, served drinks, played games, and even sang birthday songs. On the surface, it appeared that the future had arrived with fully autonomous, AI-driven robots seamlessly interacting with humans. However, what many in attendance didn’t realize at first was that the robots were being operated remotely by humans. This gap between perception and reality reveals a crucial aspect of public relations (PR) and marketing—how public perception can sometimes overshadow the actual technology or service being delivered.