Elon Musk's Cybercab and Optimus Designs: Uncanny Resemblance to "I, Robot"

In a surprising turn of events, the director of the 2004 sci-fi film "I, Robot," Alex Proyas, has called out Tesla's recent unveiling of the Cybercab and Optimus humanoid robot designs, claiming they bear a striking resemblance to the creations in his movie. The choice of platform has raised eyebrows, as Elon Musk, the owner of both Tesla and the former Twitter, now finds himself in an unexpected creative crossfire.

Uncovering the Uncanny Similarities

The Optimus Humanoid Robot

Tesla's Optimus, a prototype of their Tesla Bot, is a sleek, standing, walking robot that shares several features and design elements with the robots that stood opposite Will Smith in the 20-year-old film "I, Robot." Proyas has pointed out the remarkable similarities, leaving many to wonder if Tesla's designers took inspiration from the iconic movie.

The Robovan and Cybercab Robotaxi

The Robovan, a bulky, Art Deco-inspired vehicle envisioned to carry up to 20 people, bears a striking resemblance to the vans seen in "I, Robot." Additionally, the Cybercab Robotaxi, a slick coupe with a vertically opening door, is almost identical to the Audi RSQ concept car designed for Proyas' film. The uncanny similarities between Tesla's new designs and the futuristic vehicles from "I, Robot" have not gone unnoticed by the public.

The Transformers Connection

While the name "Optimus" is a clear nod to the iconic "Transformers" character, the Tesla Bot looks nothing like Optimus Prime and much more akin to the NS5 robots featured in Proyas' "I, Robot." This choice of nomenclature has further fueled the speculation that Tesla's designers may have drawn inspiration from the 2004 film.

The Director's Reaction

Proyas has not minced words in his response to the similarities, taking to social media to directly address Elon Musk, saying, "Hey Elon, Can I have my designs back please?" The filmmaker has shared side-by-side comparisons of the "I, Robot" designs and Tesla's recent prototypes, highlighting the uncanny resemblance.

The Backlash and Accusations

The reaction from the public and industry insiders has been equally strong, with many drawing parallels between Tesla's designs and the ones featured in "I, Robot." Matt Granger, a former assistant to Proyas who worked on the film, did not hold back, expressing his "full-fingered 'fuck you' to Elon and his utter lack of creativity."

A Trend in Tech Innovation

It's not the first time that tech companies have been accused of drawing inspiration from science fiction. OpenAI, for instance, created a voice assistant that sounded remarkably similar to Scarlett Johansson's character in the film "Her," though the company denied intentionally mimicking the actress.

The Implications and the Future

As Tesla's new designs continue to draw comparisons to the futuristic world of "I, Robot," the question remains: will Elon Musk and his team address the similarities, or will they forge ahead with their vision, unperturbed by the creative crossfire? The future of Tesla's Cybercab and Optimus humanoid robot designs, and their potential impact on the industry, remains to be seen.