Hollywood director Alex Proyas, known for his work on the 2004 science fiction film I, Robot, has accused Elon Musk of copying design elements from the film for Tesla’s latest products.
In a post on
Proyas captioned the post: “Hey Elon, can I have my designs back please?” referring to Tesla’s recently announced $30,000 two-seater Cybercab, which features butterfly-wing doors and no steering wheel, bearing a striking resemblance to the self-driving cars in I, Robot, based on Isaac Asimov’s 1950 book of the same name.
Musk also showed off an updated version of Tesla’s Optimus robot, a bipedal humanoid robot that Proyas suggested mirrors the “NS-5” robots in his film that ultimately turn on their human creators. Tesla’s Cybercab is expected to enter mass production in 2026, and the Optimus robot remains in development as part of the company’s growing focus on AI and robotics.
However, some fans of the film were quick to point out that the car driven by Will Smith’s character in I, Robot was based on an Audi concept car that was included in the film as part of a product placement deal, making the accusation of imitation less straightforward became. .
Set in 2035, I, Robot follows the character of Smith, a detective wary of robots created to serve humanity, as he uncovers an AI-powered conspiracy to control humanity. The film’s themes of technology, AI and potential human subjugation resonate with Musk’s own warnings about the risks posed by unchecked artificial intelligence.
Musk, a noted admirer of Asimov’s work, named Tesla’s unveiling event “We, Robot,” in tribute to the author. Musk has previously credited Asimov’s writings with inspiring the creation of SpaceX, his space exploration company, describing the books as “really amazing.”
Although Proyas’ comments were made in a light-hearted tone, the similarities between Tesla’s new products and the futuristic designs in I, Robot have fueled online debate. Whether these similarities are intentional or coincidental, they highlight the continued influence of science fiction on technological innovation in the real world.
Proyas, who also directed the cult hit The Crow, is no stranger to science fiction stories, but the question remains: are Tesla’s designs a nod to his film, or is it simply a case of life imitating art?
Jamie Young
Jamie is a seasoned business journalist and Senior Reporter at Business Matters, with over a decade of experience in UK SME business reporting. Jamie has a degree in business administration and regularly attends industry conferences and workshops to stay at the forefront of emerging trends. When Jamie isn’t reporting on the latest business developments, he is passionate about mentoring emerging journalists and entrepreneurs, sharing their wealth of knowledge to inspire the next generation of business leaders.