AboutWhat does the meme depict?

The 'My Tesla Robot Staring' meme features an image of the robot character Sonny from the 2004 science fiction movie 'I, Robot'. The image is used to humorously depict the hypothetical reactions of a Tesla Optimus robot assigned to perform absurd or challenging tasks. Example captions for the meme include scenarios such as the robot preparing a seafood boil at 3am or being asked to sneak drugs through security. This meme format leverages the expressive reaction of the robot to highlight the ludicrous nature of the tasks assigned to it, often reflecting the perceived abilities and limitations of advanced robots like Tesla’s Optimus model. The meme template portrays Sonny with a subtle expression of discomfort or hesitation, which is key to the humor in these scenarios.

OriginWho did it first?

The meme originated from the announcement and subsequent demonstrations of the Tesla Optimus robot at the 'We, Robot' event on October 10th, 2024. The robot was showcased performing various tasks, including bartending, which highlighted its domestic and service capabilities YouTube video of the event. Concurrently, a specific scene from 'I, Robot' featuring the robot Sonny declining a request with a simple 'No' became popular on TikTok. Notably, a TikTok post by @kayleevibesx featuring this scene attracted significant attention. Shortly thereafter, X (formerly Twitter) user @Drebae_ utilized this specific movie still to create a related meme, ingeniously associating it with Tesla's Optimus robot.^[1]

Origin: 2024