Artificial Intelligence

Jack Nicastro | 2.6.2026 2:02 PM

Elon Musk is a fan of the cyberpunk aesthetic. We know that much from his failed marriage with synth-pop singer Grimes and Grok's AI companion Ani. But his obsession with this style has landed him in a legal battle that has serious implications for copyright law in the age of artificial intelligence.

Judge George Wu of the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California ruled Thursday that Alcon Entertainment, the production company that owns the rights to Blade Runner 2049, may continue its copyright case against Elon Musk and Tesla. Alcon's lawsuit stems from Musk displaying an AI-generated image for 11 seconds at Tesla's October 2024 Cybercab showcase, during which he said, "I love Blade Runner, but I don't know if we want that future. I think we want that duster he's wearing, but not the bleak apocalypse."

When Alcon filed its suit later that month,........

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