In a world where tech and sci-fi often collide, it seems the boundary between inspiration and imitation can sometimes get a little blurry. Last week, Tesla showcased its latest innovations during the “We, Robot” event at the Warner Bros. lot in Burbank, California. Among the exciting reveals were the latest versions of their much-anticipated Tesla Bot, affectionately named Optimus, Cybercab Robotaxi, and a sleek Robovan. However, what initially sparked excitement quickly turned into a tidal wave of mockery on social media, as critics began to draw striking parallels between Tesla’s designs and those from the 2004 sci-fi classic I, Robot, starring Will Smith.

Tesla’s event title cleverly plays on the iconic sci-fi genre, echoing the themes from Isaac Asimov’s famed short story collection. But, as many online commentators pointed out, this playful nod to the past only served to highlight the uncanny similarities between Tesla’s offerings and those seen in Alex Proyas’ film, which is set in a futuristic Chicago in 2035.

Optimus, a humanoid robot designed for various tasks, bears a resemblance to the film’s NS5 robots. Yet, it was the Robovan—a self-driving people mover—and the Robotaxi—Tesla’s answer to a self-driving taxi—that really turned heads. Both designs seem to mirror vehicles straight out of I, Robot, with the Robovan echoing the robotic delivery vehicle and the Robotaxi reminiscent of the sleek Audi RSQ.

The internet did not hold back in expressing its opinion, as Twitter (now X) exploded with reactions ranging from disbelief to humor. The mockery reached its peak when Alex Proyas himself joined the conversation, tweeting, “Hey Elon, can I have my designs back please?” A direct jab that encapsulated the feelings of many, it made clear that the filmmaker wasn’t shy about calling out perceived theft in the tech world.

Adding fuel to the fire, Matt Granger, a filmmaker who worked as an assistant to Proyas on I, Robot, also chimed in. He expressed his frustration with a pointed tweet (this tweet/post has been deleted from the platform as of the time of writing): “I too wish to offer my full-fingered ‘fuck you’ to Elon and his utter lack of creativity.” Ouch.

While Tesla continues to push boundaries in the tech industry, this incident serves as a reminder of the fine line between homage and replication. In a world where originality is increasingly hard to come by, especially in the high-stakes realm of robotics, the conversation around design ethics becomes all the more crucial. So, as Elon Musk and Tesla forge ahead with their ambitious plans, one can only wonder: will they take a moment to step back and truly innovate, or will they keep looking to the silver screen for their next big idea?