Elon Musk's Tesla Faces Legal Storm Over AI Imagery in Blade Runner-Inspired Cybercab Promo

Elon Musk and his company Tesla are facing a lawsuit brought by Alcon Entertainment, the producers of "Blade Runner 2049," accusing them of using AI-generated images from the film without permission to promote their Cybercab autonomous taxi concept.

The lawsuit, filed in a Los Angeles federal court, claims that Tesla and Warner Bros. Discovery sought last-minute permission to use the film's imagery mere hours before the Cybercab event. Alcon Entertainment denied any association or licensing, which led to the alleged use of an AI-created imitation image during the presentation.

This "massive economic theft," as described in the suit, occurred while Musk introduced the Cybercab, a future concept vehicle Tesla aims to launch by 2027. For approximately 11 seconds, an image resembling a scene from "Blade Runner 2049" was projected as Musk struggled to explain its presence.

Musk, who has previously expressed admiration for the "Blade Runner" series, referred to the classic sci-fi's dystopian themes but clarified his uncertainty about desiring a similar future. Nonetheless, Alcon Entertainment expressed concerns over potential brand confusion as they are currently negotiating collaborations for the upcoming "Blade Runner 2099" series.

The lawsuit further criticizes Musk's unpredictable and politically charged behavior, suggesting that brands must consider this before associating with Tesla. Alcon emphasized that they wish to avoid any affiliation with Musk or his ventures, considering the possible negative impact on their franchise.

So far, Tesla and the other parties involved in the lawsuit, including Warner Bros. Discovery, have not issued a response to the allegations. The case highlights ongoing tensions between film studios and tech companies over intellectual property rights in promotional contexts.