Tesla has begun using its Optimus robot (Gen2/V3) on production lines at its Fremont and Austin factories, working alongside traditional industrial robots and molding machines. The company uses advanced automation to assemble vehicles like the Model 3, Model Y, and Cybertruck. Some workers have refused to wear the motion-capture suits and camera helmets required to train the Optimus robot, expressing concerns that recording their movements might allow the AI to replace them, leading to job losses. Tesla reportedly pays workers up to $48 an hour to perform tasks like juggling tennis balls for the robot's training. Tesla claims that hyper-automation and artificial intelligence improve efficiency, allowing robots to apply welds and components with millimeter-level precision. These robots can operate continuously without slowdowns and have reduced the factory footprint by 50%. The company aims to cut production cycle times to under 10 seconds for the Cybercab and has reallocated tasks like robot training to dedicated teams in Colorado and Florida, due to worker resistance. This shift reflects a broader strategy to focus on Optimus and other AI-driven innovations. Worker resistance to AI training is not unique to Tesla. At Meta, employees have protested the Model Capability Initiative (MCI), a project that aimed to record engineers' mouse movements and keyboard entries for AI training. Similar protests and strikes have occurred at Hyundai and Boston Dynamics over the introduction of humanoid robots on assembly lines. At Oracle and ScaleAI/OpenAI, contractors involved in training AI models like ChatGPT have also revolted, with some being fired for using AI tools like ChatGPT or Grammarly to automate their work. Studies suggest that nearly 29% of employees, and up to 44% of Generation Z workers, have admitted to sabotaging AI strategies by providing false data, refusing to use AI tools, or reporting biased information to protect their jobs. This resistance highlights a growing divide between Western and Chinese approaches to artificial intelligence and robotics. In the West, union and ethical concerns over data collection have slowed progress, while China's centralized policies have enabled faster development of physical AI. Chinese manufacturers such as Unitree are already mass-producing humanoid robots. The Unitree G1 is available to the public for around $13,500, compared to a minimum of $20,000 for an Optimus robot. Companies like AgiBot offer even lower prices for simplified versions. These robots are being sold to research labs, universities, and commercial customers across Asia. Unitree's CEO, Wang Xingxing, has emphasized the potential for mass production, with China aiming to boost production by 2025 and position humanoid robots as a key driver of economic growth by 2027. A first mass production factory for humanoid robots is set to open in the United States, raising concerns about the impact on employment.