Tesla's ambitious Optimus robot is running into production hurdles, with reports suggesting it’s still producing only a few hundred robots per week. A major issue is the intricate assembly of the hands, which require more than 100 screws and small components to be manually fitted by workers. Despite advancements in design, the V3 Optimus robots are still far from perfect, with their hands needing human intervention to assemble.

The project, once hyped by Tesla CEO Elon Musk as the company’s 'biggest product of all time,' is facing delays and is currently used for specific internal tasks. Tesla plans to lease the robots initially, collecting data to improve their functionality, but for now, they remain tethered to human hands.

Meanwhile, other developers are shifting towards less lifelike designs, and Chinese regulators are keeping a close eye on the industry, potentially slowing down IPOs for humanoid robotics firms. As Optimus continues to struggle, the question of whether we're closer or further from a truly autonomous robotic workforce looms.