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Writer's pictureMal McCallion

Video of the Week: Robotic Ripoff Row



Elon Musk's Tesla has found itself in a spot of bother, accused of pinching designs straight from the silver screen. The tech titan's recent unveiling of its robotic trio - the Optimus bot, Cybercab Robotaxi, and Robovan - has sparked quite the controversy, with social media sleuths crying foul over their uncanny resemblance to the mechanical marvels from the 2004 film 'I, Robot'.


The presentation, cheekily dubbed "We, Robot" (a nod to Isaac Asimov's seminal work), took place on the hallowed grounds of Warner Bros. lot in Burbank. While initially met with excitement, the reveal quickly descended into mockery as eagle-eyed observers spotted the striking similarities between Tesla's futuristic fleet and the robotic cast of the Will Smith, ahem, vehicle.


Even 'I, Robot' director Alex Proyas couldn't resist taking a playful dig at the situation. In a tongue-in-cheek social media post, he remarked, "Can I have my designs back please?" It's not every day a Hollywood bigwig accuses a tech mogul of pilfering his cinematic creations.


The timing is particularly piquant, given that 'I, Robot' is set in 2035 Chicago - a mere decade away from our current year. One can't help but wonder if Musk's team took a sneaky peek into the future or simply decided that imitation is the sincerest form of flattery.


This robotic row raises some intriguing questions about the intersection of science fiction and real-world innovation. Are we witnessing life imitating art, or is this a case of convenient 'inspiration'? Either way, it's clear that the line between Hollywood's imagination and Silicon Valley's ambition is becoming increasingly blurred.


As the debate rages on, one thing's for certain: Musk's robots have certainly stolen the spotlight, if not the designs. Whether these mechanical marvels will revolutionise our future or remain the stuff of science fiction remains to be seen. In the meantime, perhaps Tesla's legal team might want to dust off their copy of Asimov's "Three Laws of Robotics" - and add a fourth about respecting intellectual property ...

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