Tesla demonstrated its Optimus humanoid robot handing out Halloween candy to passersby in New York City's Times Square on October 27, 2025. The event, held near the Nasdaq building, also featured the Cybercab autonomous vehicle. Optimus appeared plugged in, with uncertainty about whether it was tele-operated.
On Monday, October 27, 2025, Tesla showcased two future products in front of the Nasdaq building in Times Square: the Cybercab, a fully autonomous vehicle without a steering wheel or pedals, and the Optimus humanoid robot, which distributed sweet treats to New Yorkers. Videos captured Optimus picking up small red and yellow bags of gummies from a table and handing them to passersby. CNBC's 'Squawk Box' co-anchor Rebecca Quick, who observed the demo, noted that "one or twice, he dropped them," but the robot "went back and picked them up."
Tesla Board Chair Robyn Denholm, interviewed by Quick during the event, praised Optimus's capabilities: "I've been in the lab with Optimus, and he can fold laundry." She added that the robot can wipe tables, hand items over, and even shake hands, highlighting its improving tactile dexterity. At the demo, Optimus was visibly plugged in by its shoulders, raising questions about its autonomy. It remains unclear whether a human tele-operated the robot, as previous Tesla demos, including Optimus serving as bartenders at the 2024 'We, Robot' event, relied on tele-ops according to Morgan Stanley analysts.
This marks Optimus's second public candy distribution; it previously assisted at Tesla's 'Frunk or Treat' employee event. Earlier in October 2025, Optimus attended the 'Tron: Ares' premiere without tele-operation, performing unscripted actions like "doing Kung Fu with Jared Leto," as CEO Elon Musk stated on the third-quarter earnings call. Musk emphasized Optimus's role in Tesla's growth, predicting it could drive 80% of the company's value and generate over $10 trillion in revenue, calling it "the infinite money glitch" due to embodied AI's limitless potential. In June 2025, Tesla shifted to a vision-only training approach for Optimus, using video recordings instead of motion-capture teleoperation.
The Times Square appearance underscores Tesla's push toward commercializing Optimus for tasks in homes and factories, though challenges persist, particularly in engineering its hands and forearms to mimic human dexterity.