React Autocomplete - Why is "required" not working?

Question

Im following exactly what other examples have shown, but "required" is not working. Am I missing something?

                <Autocomplete
                    id="exp-projects"
                    data-testid="select-projects"
                    options={projectOptions}
                    style={{ marginBottom: '1rem' }}
                    value={projects}
                    filterOptions={filterOptions}
                    getOptionLabel={({ name }) => name}
                    isOptionEqualToValue={(option, value) =>
                        value.id === option.id
                    }
                    onChange={(event, newValue) => setProjects(newValue)}
                    renderInput={(params) => (
                        <TextField
                            {...params}
                            inputProps={{
                                ...params.inputProps,
                                required: projects.length === 0,
                            }}
                            data-testid="field-projects"
                            label="Projects"
                            required
                        />
                    )}
                    multiple
                />