# Even a jar of pickles is a problem for Optimus, according to Elon Musk

> Speaking by video link on 10 October at the X Takeover event, held at Tesla's factory in Austin, Texas, the Tesla chief also detailed what still complicates the hands of his Optimus robot.

Published on 2026-10-14

According to Elon Musk, with rare exceptions, the very complex movements seen in robot videos are often programmed in advance. The robot runs a series of fixed motions and makes no decisions of its own. For him, real artificial intelligence must be able to cope with a situation it has never met.

He gives the example of a small self-tapping screw that must be picked up and driven into wood, a task that demands both precision and force. He says he has seen no robotic hand truly capable of it, even in a demonstration, and that this is precisely Tesla's goal.

Even a jar of pickles is a problem, he explains. The robot's fingers are covered with a rubber skin. If that skin does not grip the inner structure well, it slips when the lid is unscrewed and the force is not transmitted.

Elon Musk also says that last year, because of Chinese export restrictions, Tesla could not obtain the magnets needed for the motors. According to him, the Optimus project fell two to three months behind and the team could no longer even assemble the robot's arms.

According to cnBeta, which is relaying NetEase, this gathering of technology enthusiasts was held in a Tesla factory for the first time.

## Sources

- [cnBeta](https://www.cnbeta.com.tw/articles/tech/1581728.htm)

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