Tesla workers reportedly resist training Optimus robots to replace their own roles

Some Tesla workers are reportedly balking at being asked to help train the company's Optimus humanoid robots, which are being developed in part to take over roles currently performed by human employees, according to a report by Ars Technica.

Despite this resistance, the report said Tesla is aiming to produce 1,000 Optimus robots per week by the end of 2026, a target that underscores the scale of the company's ambitions for the humanoid robotics program.

The report did not specify which facilities or worker groups were involved in the reported pushback, nor did it detail what form the resistance has taken beyond a general reluctance to participate in training activities tied to the robots.

Optimus is Tesla's humanoid robot project, which the company has positioned as a potential future product line extending beyond its core electric vehicle business, with applications the company has suggested could include manufacturing and other labor-intensive tasks.

The original report did not include an official statement from Tesla regarding the worker concerns or the company's plans to address them as it continues to scale up production of the robots.