How do you feel about tech companies faking demos to drive hype?

Tesla’s recent We, Robot event promised to showcase a futuristic vision where humanoid robots like Optimus could serve drinks, entertain guests, and even interact autonomously.
At least, that’s what Elon Musk wanted us to believe.
But as reports now reveal, the reality was far less advanced than Tesla let on.
The Optimus robots, which appeared to move and interact independently, were actually controlled by humans using remote controls.
This is just the latest example in a long history of tech demos designed to overstate the actual capabilities of products – a practice dating back centuries.

The question is this… are you cool with it (I am).

While Tesla (and Elon) continue to paint an ambitious picture of Tesla’s AI future, the real capabilities of these robots are far behind the image presented on stage.
It’s not just Tesla.
Steve Jobs wasn’t above using a little trickery to showcase products.
During the 2007 unveiling of the iPhone, Jobs used multiple prototypes that followed a “golden path” – a carefully curated series of actions that avoided the device’s many limitations.
The demo gave the illusion of a flawless, fully functional product, even though the reality was far less polished.
For my dollar, these staged demos serve a purpose: They drum up excitement, attract investment, and push companies toward rapid innovation.
Sure, it also blurs the line between what’s real and what’s aspirational, but the market is brutal and always makes the final call when a product is launched.

I don’t believe that the use of fake demos in tech is inherently malicious.

I’m fine with a proof of concept for a product’s potential.
We know that technology takes time to mature, and early support is critical for any groundbreaking innovation that hits mass adoption.
As tech companies continue to push the boundaries of innovation, staged demos may provide a glimpse into the future, but they also risk creating a culture of skepticism where audiences no longer believe the promises of innovation.

Real innovation is when tech delivers on a promise… not just the ability to put on a good show.

This is what Elias Makos and I discussed on CJAD 800 AM. Listen in right here.

Before you go… ThinkersOne is a new way for organizations to buy bite-sized and personalized thought leadership video content (live and recorded) from the best Thinkers in the world. If you’re looking to add excitement and big smarts to your meetings, corporate events, company off-sites, “lunch & learns” and beyond, check it out.