“Someone is now going to go and find pictures that predate yours” — Internet reacts to ‘I, Robot’ director accusing Elon Musk of stealing his designs

Alex Proyas, the director of I, Robot, recently accused Elon Musk of stealing his robot designs, and the internet wasn't thrilled. The Australian filmmaker took to X, a platform owned by Elon Musk, on Sunday, October 13, to mock the billionaire and request that he give his designs back.

"Hey Elon, Can I have my designs back please?," Proyas tweeted.

On Thursday, October 10, Elon Musk unveiled the models for Tesla's new self-driving prototypes, including the Cybercab, Robovan, and Tesla robot Optimus. Proyas accompanied his tweet with comparative pictures of stills from I, Robot and shots from Musk's unveiling event on Thursday.

Social media users were not too thrilled with Alex Proyas' tweet. One X user, @thevivafrei, told the director that someone would dig up pictures of similar-looking models that predated his and claim that Proyas stole from them.

Netizens criticized the director (Image via X/@alex_proyas)

Similar reactions followed as netizens said the director had a "weird take" on the situation. Some asked him to be honored that Elon Musk seemingly made his CGI a reality, while others claimed that Musk's overall design was better.

"weird take you feel you inspired the future yet you're trying to dunk on the person who made it a reality this is the most lil d**k energy of all lil d**k energy," thought one X user.

"Be honored. What you did with CGI and a green screen, @elonmusk did in reality," said a second X user.

"Bro you d**ked around on a computer. Elon built it," added another user.

"1. Tesla's are cleaner and better 2. Execution is everything in the real world, ideas are a dime a dozen," chimed in yet another user.

A few X users pointed out a few other similar robot designs that pre-dated I, Robot, while others said that Proyas did not invent the human form on which these designs were based.

"Ahem *clears throat* The original humanoid robot From Metropolis, Art Deco era locomotives, and the 1939 Duesenberg Coupe would all like a word," pointed out one X user.

"So you designed the human form and the basic shape of busses and cars?" asked another user.

"Yea cause you invented humanoid robots and suicide doors gtfoh", added yet another X user.

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Elon Musk's 'We, Robot' event featured Optimus robots entertaining guests

In an event titled We, Robot, in what seemed like a nod to Isaac Asimov's short story collection, I, Robot, Tesla CEO Elon Musk unveiled the much-anticipated Tesla Robotaxi (Cybercab). Musk arrived at the event in the cab, which sported two gull-wing doors and no steering wheel or pedals.

The self-driving cab set for high-volume production in 2026 will be priced at less than $30,000. Elon Musk also introduced the autonomous Robovan, which could carry 20 people at a time and transport goods. The futuristic train engine-looking van also sported no visible wheels.

However, the night's highlight was Tesla's new Optimus robots, who performed a choreographed dance routine, interacted with guests, played charades, sang, and even served and mixed drinks at the event. At the time, some netizens thought that the robots were completely automated. However, this apparently was not the case.

Attendee Robert Scoble posted on X that humans were "remotely assisting" Elon Musk's robots. Scoble also claimed that the robots used the help of an AI to walk. Adam Jonas, an analyst for Morgan Stanley, wrote in a report for the company that the robots "relied on tele-ops (human intervention)."