Film director Alex Proyas blasted Tesla Chief Executive Elon Musk over the resemblance of two new autonomous Tesla vehicles to the robots in his 2004 science fiction movie I, Robot.
The issue cropped up after Musk revealed prototypes for two new autonomous vehicles. The self-driving robotaxi known as the Cybercab, and the Robovan, just before the weekend.
Sleek, futuristic designs, but with Tesla’s characteristic touch. Yet several social media commenters thought the cars looked uncannily like the movie I, Robot Robots. The movie was set in 2035 Chicago and imagined a future where human-like robots would populate the public service workforce.
The similarity didn’t go unnoticed by I, Robot director Proyas, who immediately used X to call out Musk for allegedly swiping the designs from his film. “Hey Elon, Can I have my designs back please?” he wrote.
I, Robot, set in a dystopian future, follows the lives of humans being catered to by robots. A sci-fi movie starring Will Smith, Bridget Moynahan, and Alan Tudyk. It features sleek-looking humanoid robots strikingly similar to Tesla’s new prototypes.
Musk had presented several new robots at Tesla’s “We, Robot” event on Thursday. One of the highlights was the Optimus robot, a human-like robot controlled by a human at its helm. Tesla also showed off the Cybercab, a robotaxi from the future, complete with wing-like doors and no steering wheel or pedals. Musk also introduced the Robovan, built to move goods for up to 20 people. Thus, it is a versatile self-driving vehicle.“
The ever-protective Proyas lashed out publicly in response. It seems his film’s design of humanoid robots preceded. And then popped up in the look of Tesla’s newest line of vehicles. Raising more than a few questions regarding Musk’s originality of creation.
Meanwhile, Proyas will shoot his new sci-fi satire RUR in Sydney, Australia, starting on October 21.
ANI
