Elon Musk may be viewed as a visionary by his fans, but perhaps not Alex Proyas.
After the Tesla CEO showed off his company’s Optimus robots and new self-driving vehicle designs last week in Burbank, California, the filmmaker suggested on Sunday that the products bore a resemblance to the technology seen in his 2004 science fiction blockbuster, “I, Robot.”
“Hey Elon,” Proyas wrote on Musk’s X platform, formerly known as Twitter. “Can I have my designs back please?”
The rhetorical question was accompanied by a triptych of “I, Robot” stills alongside products showcased at the Burbank event, which was titled “We, Robot.”
Musk as yet to publicly respond to Proyas. But supporters of the right-wing billionaire seem to believe that Proyas’ question was out of line.
“Be honored. What you did with CGI and a green screen, @elonmusk did in reality,” wrote one user on X, referencing a handle used by Musk.
Another said, “you feel you inspired the future yet you’re trying to dunk on the person who made it a reality.”
Left: Roberto Pfeil/Associated Press; Right: Ying Tang/NurPhoto/Getty Images
Musk originally unveiled the Optimus robot in 2022, the same year that he acquired Twitter for about $44 billion. Though once lauded for his technological ambitions, Musk has recently lost much of his cultural cachet amid his outspoken views on politics.
For his part, Proyas was hailed as a visionary long before Musk — who at times has been accused of taking credit for other people’s efforts — became a household name.
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Though the screenplay for “I, Robot,” was based on the work of legendary sci-fi author Isaac Asimov, the film itself has been praised for its production design, including its depictions of futuristic vehicles and humanoid robots. “Dark City,” Proyas’ award-winning sci-fi thriller from 1998, also received acclaim for its designs and mind-bending ideas.
Meanwhile, Tesla’s Optimus robots were reportedly controlled in part by humans at “We, Robot.” Following last week’s event, the company’s stock dropped by nearly 9%.