Elon Musk Accused of Stealing Designs from I, Robot Director

Elon Musk Accused of Stealing Designs from the director of the 2004 sci-fi film I, Robot. The filmmaker, Alex Proyas, claims that Musk copied his designs for humanoid machines and self-driving vehicles. At a Tesla event on Thursday, Musk unveiled the futuristic Cybercab, featuring winged doors and lacking a steering wheel or pedals, along with a new glimpse of the Optimus robots. However, the “We, Robot” showcase, a nod to Isaac Asimov’s short story collection, caught Proyas’ attention. In a viral post on X, he stated, “Hey Elon, can I have my designs back please,” accusing Musk of replicating elements from his film. The post quickly gained attention as Elon Musk accused of stealing designs that echo the aesthetics of I, Robot.
The Australian film director responded to a comment on Instagram about the originality of his film’s visuals, stating that he had worked with a “very talented design team” to create the look of I, Robot. In contrast, he remarked, “Elon Musk, accused of stealing designs,” seems to have a less talented design team that “watched a lot of movies, including I, Robot.” Patrick Tatopoulos, the film’s production designer, later reposted an image comparing the film’s designs with images from Tesla’s event, showcasing the similarities. Tatopoulos added, “Maybe it’s just me, or should I feel honored that Elon Musk is accused of stealing designs from I, Robot? Either way, it’s fun to watch.”
Anxious Automaton
The claims by Proyas, with Elon Musk accused of stealing designs, have been met with skepticism online, with some arguing that Proyas’ own film, I, Robot, is itself derivative. Several users responded to his post on X by sharing images of the feminized cyborg from Fritz Lang’s 1927 film Metropolis, pointing out that sci-fi has long influenced modern design. This isn’t the first time people have questioned whether tech companies draw inspiration from science fiction as they develop new gadgets and robotics, particularly with the rise of AI. Elon Musk’s accusation of stealing designs once again sparks a broader conversation about the crossover between technology and science fiction, especially since Musk has previously cited The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy as one of his influences.

Grok, Elon Musk’s AI chatbot “with a little humor” designed for X, was revealed to be modeled on Douglas Adams’ The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy. Musk has also described Tesla’s futuristic Cybertruck as “an armored personnel carrier from the future” that “Blade Runner would have driven,” drawing inspiration from classic sci-fi. However, with Elon Musk accused of stealing designs, this is not the first time tech has faced criticism for resembling fictional creations. OpenAI’s Sam Altman faced similar allegations when users noted that a new voice for ChatGPT resembled the virtual assistant played by Scarlett Johansson in the 2013 film Her. The voice, called “Sky,” was later removed following the backlash, highlighting how tech companies like OpenAI and Tesla often walk a fine line, with Elon Musk accused of stealing designs adding to the ongoing conversation around originality in innovation.
The comparisons gained attention due to the striking similarities between Tesla’s self-driving vehicles and the futuristic cars in I, Robot, as well as the resemblance of Tesla’s Optimus robot to the film’s autonomous police force. With Elon Musk accused of stealing designs, critics have pointed out how closely these innovations align with the technology depicted in the 2004 film starring Will Smith, which was based on Isaac Asimov’s I, Robot stories. The movie, centered on advanced robotics governed by Asimov’s “Three Laws of Robotics,” now fuels discussions about Elon Musk accused of stealing designs from iconic sci-fi concepts.