By Alaina Coats

Updated April 14, 2025

Will Smith's 2004 film I, Robot astounded science fiction enthusiasts who had dreamed of robots taking over the world but could not realistically picture it ever happening. The 2035 setting of the film has appeared to reflect our own world. Robots have not yet become our personal companions who run errands or save our lives in dangerous situations, like in the movie, but robotics and automation are moving the idea closer in reach.

The owner of Space X, X, and Tesla, Elon Musk, has been a strong advocate for artificial intelligence. His most recent artificial intelligence product, Optimus Robot, is a humanoid that remarkably resembles the robot Sonny from the movie I, Robot. Optimus has basic human talents and weighs around 160 pounds. Its arms, legs, fingers, and torso are all fully functional. It runs on a computer system and a battery. Musk declared that his ultimate objective is to "produce the robot as quickly as possible and have it be useful as quickly as possible."

Access to exciting innovations such as push-start engines and self-driving cars has surreptitiously made AI innovation seem to be a careless and common normality. Yet, the realistic thought of interacting with a humanoid is not as common as many tech fanatics would like to admit. Truthfully, nothing is normal about humans talking to robots.

Musk has been outspoken in his support of restricting AI's potential and putting humans in charge of robotics in the end. For instance, Tesla's self-driving car can park itself, change lanes, stop at red lights, and even stop for pedestrians. However, the human driver always has primary control in circumstances where human intervention is required. (So, we think.)

The 21st-century car actually has more control over your commute than you may think.

The modern-day car is chipped. That means semiconductors, or computer chips, control the majority of your car’s functionality, from your engine start-up, braking system, backup cameras, and airbag deployment to the Bluetooth system that connects your satellite radio and your cell phone. Chipsetc.com estimates that 5—1000 chips are programmed in gas and electric cars.

AI and robotics are steadily getting more advanced. The idea of robots building other robots causes a bit of anxiety. Tech admirers can expect to see Optimus on the market within the next three to five years. “I think the mission [of Tesla] effectively does somewhat broaden with the advent of Optimus—to make the future awesome,” Musk said.

Will Smith’s I, Robot just may have given us a glimpse of what to expect in our very near future.

AI is here to stay