‘I, Robot’ Director Mocks Elon Musk for Tesla Ripping Off Film for Optimus, Robotaxi: “Can I Have My Designs Back Please?”

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As a longtime fan of both Tesla and sci-fi movies, I must say, I found myself caught between admiration and amusement at the recent unveiling of Tesla’s latest robot products – Optimus, Robovan, and Robotaxi. The designs, especially the striking resemblance to the robots from the 2004 film “I, Robot,” stirred a sense of nostalgia that was hard to ignore.

During Tesla’s grand unveiling of the Cybercab Robotaxi last week at Warner Bros. Studios in Burbank, California, they also displayed the newest version of their robot creation, named Optimus, along with a Robovan. The initial showcase of these three robotic products sparked excitement on social media. However, this enthusiasm quickly shifted to ridicule as people pointed out similarities between Tesla’s designs and those seen in the 2004 sci-fi film I, Robot, starring Will Smith, with many accusing Elon Musk‘s company of copying the designs.

The event organized by Tesla was titled “We, Robot,” a nod to Isaac Asimov’s 1950 short-story collection that the movie is adapted from. This title acknowledges the blend of concepts. However, some critics on social media noticed striking similarities between Tesla’s proposed robot products and robots in Alex Proyas’ 2035 Chicago-set film.

The robot being created by Tesla, named Optimus after the Transformers character, shares some resemblance with the NS5 robots seen in I, Robot. Interestingly, two other vehicles – the Robovan (resembling a self-driving people mover from the film) and the Robotaxi (resembling the Audi RSQ from the film) – also mimic similar vehicles depicted in I, Robot. This likeness sparked a wave of playful ridicule on social media and even drew a reaction from Proyas.

Proyas himself weighed in on Sunday, tweeting, “Hey Elon, can I have my designs back please?”

Film professional Matt Granger, formerly an assistant to Proyas on the production of “I, Robot”, expressed his displeasure in a tweet, saying, “I also can’t help but express my strong disappointment towards Elon and his apparent creative shortcomings.

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2024-10-14 07:24