People have been left unsettled after witnessing an ‘interview’ with one of Tesla’s newly unveiled androids, known as Optimus. Elon Musk introduced the robots during the We, Robot event at Warner Bros. Studios in California. The event’s title references Isaac Asimov’s classic I, Robot stories and the Will Smith film of the same name, which famously depicted a robot uprising—an ironic nod for a convention unveiling real-life humanoid robots.

Musk announced that Tesla’s Optimus robots, which mimic the human body, are designed for domestic tasks. “They’ll do anything you want,” Musk stated, explaining that they can act as teachers, babysitters, dog walkers, lawn mowers, and even serve drinks, adding, “Whatever you can think of, it will do.” These robots, aimed at fulfilling household chores, promise to offer peace of mind—assuming you can afford one—by being less prone to human complications like labor disputes.

However, a recent video posted online featuring a conversation between a human and one of these Optimus bots has sparked a mix of intrigue and discomfort. In the video, the interviewer asks the robot where it’s from. The bot responds, describing its factory training, before being asked, “What’s the hardest thing about being a robot?” After a brief pause, the bot replies, “Trying to learn how to be as human as you guys are. And that’s something I try to do harder every day. I hope you’ll help us become that.”

This chilling statement left viewers disturbed. One commented, “This is how the movie starts,” while another remarked, “The last 20 seconds of this clip should make your blood go cold. Most won’t take this seriously.” Some, however, were skeptical, believing the robot was being remotely controlled by a person rather than truly speaking on its own.

This eerie exchange has raised questions about how close we are to blurring the lines between human and machine.