Director Alex Proyas calls out Elon Musk for allegedly copying ‘I, Robot’ designs in Tesla’s new autonomous vehicles, sparking debate on social media.
Images: X
Director Alex Proyas has publicly criticized Tesla CEO Elon Musk for allegedly copying the designs of his 2004 sci-fi film ‘I, Robot’ in Tesla’s newly unveiled autonomous vehicles.
Musk showcased two futuristic models over the weekend: the self-driving robotaxi, known as the Cybercab, and a versatile transport vehicle called the Robovan. While Tesla is known for its sleek and cutting-edge design language, many on social media quickly pointed out the resemblance between these vehicles and the humanoid robots featured in ‘I, Robot’.
Hey Elon, Can I have my designs back please? #ElonMusk #Elon_Musk pic.twitter.com/WPgxHevr6E
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— Alex Proyas (@alex_proyas) October 13, 2024
Alex Proyas, who directed ‘I, Robot’, took to the social media platform X (formerly Twitter) to voice his frustration. “Hey Elon, Can I have my designs back please?” he posted, calling attention to the similarity between Tesla’s latest prototypes and the robotic designs from his film.
The 2004 movie, set in a futuristic Chicago in 2035, imagines a world where humanoid robots work alongside humans in various public service roles. The film’s story follows a detective, played by Will Smith, as he investigates a suspicious death connected to U.S. Robotics, a company that manufactures the robots.
The sleek, metallic designs of these robots bear a noticeable resemblance to Tesla’s new autonomous vehicles, especially the Cybercab’s futuristic aesthetic.
The criticism from Alex Proyas came shortly after Musk’s much-anticipated “We, Robot” event, where they revealed several robotic innovations. Among the highlights were the Cybercab, a robotaxi that features wing-like doors and lacks a steering wheel and pedals, and the Robovan, a self-driving vehicle designed for cargo transport or carrying up to 20 passengers. Additionally, Musk introduced a new human-like robot called Optimus, which people can tele-operate.
In the meantime, Proyas is preparing for his next venture. The director is ready to begin filming a new sci-fi satire, ‘RUR’, in Sydney, Australia, starting October 21.
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