Tesla's “We, Robot” event recently became a hot topic on the internet. This event introduced many new products, including Cybercab – a self-driving car aimed at consumers, and Robovan – a public vehicle that can carry 20 people. Along with that, Tesla also revealed a new version of the Optimus robot. But what is noteworthy is not only the technology that Tesla presented, but also the controversy that arose around the originality of these products.
In a notable reaction, Alex Proyas, director of the famous film “I, Robot” (2004), spoke out about the surprising similarities between Tesla's designs and familiar images from his movie. Proyas did not hesitate to accuse Elon Musk of “borrowing” design elements from his work and said that Tesla has recreated ideas from “I, Robot” in their latest products.
Tesla has long been famous for its product announcement events that attract a lot of attention, and “We, Robot” is no exception. One of the highlights of this event is Cybercab, a fully self-driving taxi that Tesla promises will bring a new travel experience to users. In addition, Robovan – a large self-driving vehicle that can carry up to 20 people, was also introduced, along with the latest update of the humanoid robot Optimus.
However, immediately after the introduction, mixed opinions began to appear. Debates surrounding the practicality of the Optimus robot and the reliability of self-driving technology on new car models attract attention. But what makes the event even more prominent are the accusations that Tesla may have borrowed ideas from the movie “I, Robot”.
Alex Proyas's film “I, Robot,” released in 2004, painted a scenario where robots and artificial intelligence become an important part of human life, but at the same time issued warnings about potential risk. The name “We, Robot” of the Tesla event has made many people immediately think of this movie, and according to Proyas, the similarity does not stop at the name.
On social network X (formerly Twitter), Proyas did not hesitate to express his opinion. He wrote: “Hey Elon, can I get my design back?” – an apparent criticism of Tesla seemingly copying design ideas from the movie “I, Robot”. Proyas' comments quickly attracted attention and caused a wave of controversy between Tesla supporters and those who sympathized with the director.
Some people believe that there are similarities between real-life robots and self-driving vehicles and fictional images on the screen. Humanoid robots, especially in the context of technological development, easily have similarities in appearance and function. However, not only robots but also Tesla's vehicles are accused of having many similarities to the designs in “I, Robot”.
Robovan, Tesla's new self-driving aircraft carrier, has been compared to the unmanned delivery vehicles featured in the movie. Cybercab – Tesla's self-driving taxi – was also commented on having many similarities with the self-driving car of the main character in “I, Robot”. This makes criticism about Tesla “borrowing” ideas from the movie even more harsh.
The car of the hero in “I, Robot” – Audi RSQ – is designed as a futuristic version of modern sports cars. With globes instead of wheels and a butterfly door design similar to Tesla models, the Audi RSQ is an icon of pioneering technology. However, if the RSQ has a powerful 5.0-liter V10 engine, Tesla's Cybercab is equipped with a completely electric powertrain – showing a clear difference in technology despite the similarities in appearance. .
Not only Alex Proyas expressed his dissatisfaction, but also other people who worked on the movie “I, Robot” also spoke up. Matt Granger, Proyas' former assistant, posted a status (later deleted) in which he criticized Elon Musk for the “lack of creativity” in Tesla's design. Granger even added a strong criticism, asserting that Tesla's new products do not appear to be groundbreaking.
However, there are also opinions that Tesla is continuing an inevitable trend in technology development and it is inevitable that the designs have similarities with images that have appeared on screen before. With robots and self-driving cars becoming increasingly popular, technology companies are entering a phase where futuristic ideas for cinema are gradually becoming a reality.
Despite the controversy surrounding the “We, Robot” event, it's clear that Tesla is betting big on the future of robotics and artificial intelligence. With products like the Optimus, Cybercab and Robovan, Tesla hopes to revolutionize the transportation and manufacturing industries and usher in a new era in the relationship between humans and machines.
Although Alex Proyas has reason to feel that his designs are being copied, the development of modern technology is making many futuristic ideas become reality. The question is: can Tesla's products really overcome the shadow of “I, Robot” and create separate breakthroughs, or just stop at predictive images? of cinema?