15-10-2024 (AUSTIN) In an unexpected twist of science fiction becoming reality, Alex Proyas, the director of the 2004 film “I, Robot”, has levelled accusations at tech magnate Elon Musk, claiming that Tesla’s recent product unveilings bear an uncanny resemblance to his film’s futuristic designs.
The controversy erupted following Tesla’s “We, Robot” event, where Musk presented the company’s latest innovations, including the Cybercab – a driverless vehicle with distinctive winged doors – and an updated version of the Optimus humanoid robot. The showcase’s title, a clever play on Isaac Asimov’s seminal work, inadvertently drew attention to potential similarities with Proyas’s cinematic adaptation.
Proyas took to social media platform X to voice his concerns, stating, “Hey Elon, can I have my designs back please.” The post quickly went viral, amassing over 6 million views and igniting a debate about the origins of Tesla’s aesthetic choices.
In a follow-up comment on Instagram, the Australian filmmaker defended the originality of his work, crediting his “very talented design team” for the film’s visuals. He then took a swipe at Tesla, suggesting their design team “watched a lot of movies, including I, Robot it seems.”
Adding fuel to the fire, Patrick Tatopoulos, the production designer for “I, Robot”, shared side-by-side comparisons of the film’s designs and Tesla’s new products on his Instagram account. His caption, “Maybe it is just me, or should I feel honoured that Elon found some inspiration in my I, Robot designs,” struck a more conciliatory tone while still highlighting the perceived similarities.
However, the accusations have been met with scepticism from some quarters. Critics have pointed out that Proyas’s film itself draws inspiration from earlier works, with many referencing the iconic female robot from Fritz Lang’s 1927 masterpiece “Metropolis” as a possible influence on both “I, Robot” and Tesla’s designs.
This incident is not isolated in the tech world, where the line between science fiction and reality continues to blur. Musk himself has previously acknowledged drawing inspiration from various sci-fi sources, including Douglas Adams’ “The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy” for his AI chatbot Grok, and the film “Blade Runner” for Tesla’s Cybertruck design.
