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Oct 152 min read

Elon Musk Accused of Design Copying by I, Robot Director

Director of "I, Robot" accuses Elon Musk of design replication. Musk's unveiling of Tesla's Cybercab sparks controversy. Tech industry under scrutiny for drawing inspiration from sci-fi.


Elon Musk Accused of Design Copying by I, Robot Director
Credit: YAHOO

Renowned filmmaker Alex Proyas, director of the 2004 sci-fi movie "I, Robot," has raised allegations against billionaire Elon Musk, claiming that Musk replicated designs from his film for humanoid machines and self-driving vehicles. The accusation emerged after Musk unveiled Tesla's Cybercab at an event, featuring unique winged doors, no steering wheel or pedals, and a glimpse of the Optimus robots.




Proyas, drawing a parallel to his film's title, "We, Robot," took to X to express his concerns directly to Musk, stating, "Hey Elon, can I have my designs back please," in a post that garnered 6.4 million views. Proyas highlighted the effort put in by his talented design team to create the visuals for "I, Robot," insinuating that Musk's design team may have drawn inspiration from the movie.


In response to Proyas' claims, Patrick Tatopoulos, the production designer of "I, Robot," reposted an image comparing the film's designs with images from Tesla's event on Instagram. Tatopoulos pondered whether he should feel honoured that Musk found inspiration in his work, adding that regardless, it was entertaining to observe the situation unfold.


While Proyas' accusations have sparked debate online, with some questioning the originality of his own film, this incident is not the first time tech companies have been scrutinised for drawing inspiration from sci-fi literature and cinema. Elon Musk himself has acknowledged being influenced by works like "The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy" and has made references to iconic sci-fi creations in his projects.


OpenAI, another tech entity, faced criticism for similarities between a new voice feature and a character portrayed by Scarlett Johansson in the film "Her." The company swiftly removed the voice, clarifying that it was not intended as an imitation. Johansson expressed feeling "angered" and "shocked" by the resemblance.

 

  • Director of "I, Robot" accuses Elon Musk of design replication

  • Musk's unveiling of Tesla's Cybercab sparks controversy

  • Tech industry under scrutiny for drawing inspiration from sci-fi


Source: BBC


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