‘I, Robot’ director accuses Elon Musk of stealing designs for Tesla’s robot and vehicles

Proyas took to X (formerly Twitter) to call out Musk, sharing side-by-side comparisons of the futuristic creations.

Tesla CEO Elon Musk is facing unexpected criticism from I, Robot director Alex Proyas, who has accused the tech billionaire of using design elements from his 2004 sci-fi film for Tesla’s newly unveiled products, including the Optimus robot, cybercab, and robovan. During the reveal of Tesla’s latest autonomous technology, Musk introduced these new prototypes, but Proyas quickly took to X (formerly Twitter) to voice his concerns. The director posted side-by-side images of Tesla’s creations alongside similar concepts from I, Robot, asking, “Hey Elon, Can I have my designs back please?”
 

Hey Elon, Can I have my designs back please? #ElonMusk #Elon_Musk pic.twitter.com/WPgxHevr6E

— Alex Proyas (@alex_proyas) October 13, 2024

The comparisons drew attention due to the similarities between Tesla’s self-driving vehicles and the futuristic cars in I, Robot, as well as the likeness of Tesla’s Optimus robot to the film’s autonomous police force. The 2004 movie, starring Will Smith and based on Isaac Asimov's I, Robot stories, featured advanced robotics governed by the famous "Three Laws of Robotics," which play a central role in the movie’s plot.

Proyas, known for directing films like The Crow and Dark City, has been vocal about his thoughts on AI and its growing role in society, sharing insights on his Patreon. He is currently working on another science fiction film, R.U.R., which delves into similar themes of robotics and AI.

As the debate unfolds, fans of both Proyas and Musk are left to ponder whether these similarities are mere coincidence or a case of artistic borrowing. For now, the controversy surrounding Tesla’s new robot and vehicle designs continues to spark conversation across social media.