<P> I, Robot (stylized as i, robot) is a 2004 American neo-noir dystopian science fiction action film directed by Alex Proyas . The screenplay by Jeff Vintar and Akiva Goldsman is from a screen story by Vintar, suggested by Isaac Asimov's short - story collection of the same name . The film stars Will Smith, Bridget Moynahan, Bruce Greenwood, James Cromwell, Chi McBride, Alan Tudyk and Shia LaBeouf . </P> <P> I, Robot was released in North America on July 16, 2004, in Australia on July 22, 2004, in the United Kingdom on August 6, 2004 and in other countries between July 2004 to October 2004 . Produced with a budget of USD $120 million, the film grossed $144 million domestically and $202 million in foreign markets for a worldwide total of $346 million . It received mixed to favorable reviews, with critics praising the writing, visual effects, and acting; but other critics were mixed with the focus on the plot . It was nominated for the 2004 Academy Award for Best Visual Effects . </P> <P> In the year 2035, humanoid robots serve humanity, which is protected by the Three Laws of Robotics . Del Spooner, a Chicago police detective, hates and distrusts robots because one of them rescued him from a car crash but left a 12 - year - old girl to die because her survival was statistically less likely than his . Spooner's critical injuries were repaired with a cybernetic left arm, lung, and ribs, personally implanted by the co-founder of U.S. Robots and Mechanical Men (USR), Dr. Alfred Lanning . </P> <P> When Lanning falls to his death from his office window, the CEO of USR Lawrence Robertson declares it a suicide, but Spooner is skeptical . Spooner and robopsychologist Susan Calvin consult USR's central artificial intelligence computer, VIKI (Virtual Interactive Kinetic Intelligence), to review security footage of Lanning's fall . Though the video is corrupted, they learn that no other humans were in Lanning's office at the time; but Spooner points out that Lanning could not have thrown himself through his heavy office window--only a robot could have broken it . </P>

How did will smith lose his arm in irobot