r/skeptic • u/owlsarentwhatheyseem • Aug 20 '26
š² Consumer Protection Concerns that Satyress Robotic's "Threehalves" may be faked or disingenuous
I have what I believe might be evidence that the viral emergency rescue robot, Satyress Robotic's "Threehalves," is a largely incomplete, nonfunctional prototype, potentially associated with Tesla, and/or an ARG (Alternate Reality Game, a type of Internet puzzle). On Instagram, videos describing Threehalves as fact have gained views in the millions, and likes in the hundreds of thousands. Aaron Parnas has literally reported on this, and I'm very concerned with people taking it at face value.
> Beau Gaston/Beau G, the creator, is a 10 year employee of Tesla with the job title "Staff Software Product Support Engineer - Al/Optimus." I did not see his relationship with Tesla disclosed anywhere except his LinkedIn, which is publicly viewable on Google results. TheĀ entire profile is private, but viewable by anyone with a LinkedIn account.Ā https://www.linkedin.com/in/beau-gaston
> A website supposedly containing Beau Gaston's resume and portfolio appears to be an ARG. It was created Friday, November 25th, 2022, around the same time that Gaston began working on Threehalves.Ā https://www.beaugaston.com/
> Unlisted on the website, there is a page called "Build Progress." Clicking on this page displays Threehalves in progress, in a far less functional state than the photographs on the main webpage display. When viewing the metadata of a photograph depicting Threehalves as just a metal endoskeleton with an actuator inside, I found that the photo was taken on a Google Pixel 6 on July 6, 2026. The page also includes 3D digital models of the robot's legs, but no photographs of the rest of the robot beyond its face and the endoskeleton of its torso.Ā https://www.satyress.com/buildprogress
> No videos of Threehalves in action exist as far as my research has found. No proof that Threehalves has the capabilities claimed exist as far as my research has found. All that the public has to go on, to my knowledge, are photos presented by Beau Gaston himself.
> No business entities with the name "Satyress" or "Satyress Robotics" are registered by the Secretary of State in California (I tried to recreate the search for this post but the California BizFile website crashed). No results were discoverable on the SEC website either.
Because of all these factors combined, I am inclined to believe that Threehalves is (allegedly) at best a strikingĀ sculpture by a man who is talented at welding, and at worst a sleek website masking information about a product being incomplete designed to attract investors and media attention.
10
u/Evinceo Aug 20 '26
I mean there seem to be exactly three pictures of the supposed prototype. There are more pictures of Bigfoot. If it was real and not a shitpost they would have way more proof that it exists.
6
u/Signal_Nobody1792 Aug 20 '26
I assumed it was satire? Its called "Satyress" and looks like its from a horror movie. I laughed all through their website.
I mean the part where they show the image of the robot looking menacing as shit and it says "This robot is more dangerous than it looks" is hilarious.
And then they claim the horns are a safety feature to prevent it from entering homes...
3
u/PapaverOneirium Aug 21 '26
itās obvious (relatively high effort$ satire, I am very confused by people taking it seriously and the handwringing about it
3
u/-paperbrain- Aug 20 '26
I can't say what the motivation might be, but if it were an actual, viable product, then it would have launched with more that a few random images showing what it is and does.
It would be standard practice to have at a minimum, video.
Is it a joke, a protest, an ARG, a mentally unwell person thinking they're making a legitimate effort? No clue.
But it's not an actual venture. You don't need to dive that deep to conclude that much.
2
u/CharmingZombie4967 Aug 28 '26
I decided to look through the website and it was definitely giving me some ARG vibes, especially with the sudden jump scares as you scroll.
1
u/easyRiderOlder Aug 20 '26
Interesting points. Given the lack of publicly verifiable evidence, it seems reasonable to remain skeptical until there is independent evidence of the robotās claimed capabilities
2
u/owlsarentwhatheyseem Aug 20 '26
My biggest concern is that people seem to think Threehalves is CURRENTLY capable of the things Satyress is advertising on the website, and the website does nothing to dispel that notion. In interviews, Gaston clarifies that it's a prototype. But on the website, Threehalves is described as:
* Humanlike torso and arms allow for natural teleoperation and interfacing with designed-for-human tools and environments. Quadruped body with friction braked joints allows for a stable platform with no latent power consumption when not in motion, and increased stability and failsafes over a biped in both normal operation and in the event of loss of motor control.
* All limbs, torso, and head can be replaced and recalibrated in minutes if damaged, and share 3 common fasteners for the entirety of their serviceable assemblies. Bring certain precision to uncertain environments.
As far as I can tell, we have no proof that any of that actually exists yet in the robot. We are working off of a zoomed-out photo of the chassis standing outside, and a collection of 3D renders of Threehalves looking like an SCP in a hallway.
[Edit: I don't see them disclosing that those are 3D renders on the website, either.]
1
1
u/metal_enjoyer Sep 01 '26
someone pls tell me its fake im literally hallucinating ts
fuck i hate social media
1
u/owlsarentwhatheyseem Sep 01 '26
You're not, but as I said, everything (allegedly) seems to point to the company having a half-baked prototype that they made some Blender models of, rather than a fully functional chainsaw robot. The creator has been working on it for four years and we have never seen it walk, let alone break through a wall of a burning building.
1
u/Miserable_Impact_234 Sep 05 '26
I actually loved how IT IS FULLY INTENDED FOR YOU TO FUCKING HATE IT, Because if it's not in burning environment it Is Not friendly, it's only to Know where the people stuck is, Not retrieve
1
u/DefinitelyNotMrman 18d ago
Im kinda late but the website https://www.beaugaston.com/ has no password anywhere in the client-side code and it doen't even connect to a server for password verification. It always says the password is wrong. It seems to be disconnected from the real person.
17
u/dcheesi Aug 20 '26
As soon as I saw it, I knew it must be BS on some level. You can't tell me that even the most deranged tech-bro would look at that thing and think it was going to sell as a public-safety droid or whatever. It's clearly designed to be as unsettling and/or "metal" as possible.