The world premiere in Los Angeles for Disney's Tron: Ares presented a surreal experience when Tesla's humanoid robot, Optimus, took to the red carpet and appeared to engage in a spar-like action with actor Jared Leto. The robot struck various stances evocative of combat while Leto pretended to defend himself, creating a moment that would go viral on the internet.
Tesla shared the clip under the simple title "Optimus at the Tron Premiere," presenting the clip as both entertainment and as an eye-catching advertising stunt for its developing humanoid robot. The pre-planned performance blurred the separation between Hollywood promotional stunts and Tesla's mission of branding Optimus as a leader in AI-powered humanoid robotics.
What Tron: Ares is About and Why Optimus Was There
Tron: Ares is the third film in the Disney franchise, and it is set to premiere on October 10th, 2025. The movie takes place in the ongoing story of humans who developed an AI program inside a digital universe. This time, however, programs are escaping into reality and the question arises as to whether AI will help or to continue the struggle between AI and humans.
It was appropriate to bring Tesla's Optimus, or TeslaBot, to the premiere given the film's main idea of humans co-existing with intelligent machines and its coverage of conflicts between humans and AI. Jared Leto - the star of the film - was there to demonstrate Optimus's abilities, while also indirectly representing the tensions that are central to the film. So, the whole experience was a promotional marketing gimmick, and arguably also an embodiment of the themes and ideas explored in the movie.
Tesla Employee Files Lawsuit Over Optimus Attack
However, behind the pageantry of the premiere, Tesla is facing real liabilities at the same time related to the same robot. A man named Peter Hinterdobler - a former Tesla employee - has filed a lawsuit claiming he was injured by Optimus in a workplace incident earlier this year.
In a lawsuit filing, Hinterdobler claims that the incidents happened in February 2025, and while performing maintenance on the robot, it somehow powered on unexpectedly. According to the filing, the weight of his body - allegedly a 4000 kg counterbalance - and was thus knocked out at work and brought to the hospital. He claims he has serious and permanent injuries, including to his neck, back, and shoulder, as well as emotional damages.
The lawsuit claims that Tesla was negligent and did not implement proper safety design, safety testing, and/or safety maintenance protocols. It begs the question about whether or not robots like the Optimus are ready for deployment on a larger scale - and especially in public spaces - and if so, for what reasons and consequences?
Tesla's choice to bring Optimus to the Tron: Ares red carpet attracted International interest, merging new tech and entertainment, but the simultaneous litigation highlights a troubling reality: simply being humanoid and appearing impressive on stage does not mean these types of robots are safe in the wild.
This incident leaves Tesla at a crossroads - celebrated for its innovations, but being made to prove that the robots AI driven machines are safe, reliable, and trust-worthy outside the confines of demonstration.
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