Grok releases first AI Odyssey episode, draws ridicule

Three months after Elon Musk promised a full-length, "historically accurate" film of Homer's epic, Grok Imagine has released seven minutes of it, which the company now calls "Episode 1 of our Odyssey series." TechCrunch reported that the clip was posted on X on Friday, October 23. It was made with Wonder Studios and director Dev Walker, and Grok Imagine credited both as "creative collaboration." Most viewers and critics have mocked it.techcrunch.com

The result is far smaller than what Musk promised in July. "Before this year ends, Grok Imagine will make a full-length movie of The Odyssey that is historically accurate and true to the art of Homer," he wrote then, Variety reported. Variety noted that Wonder Studios and Walker both specialize in AI filmmaking. No release date has been given for any longer version.variety.com

"Pure garbage"

The episode opens with Odysseus getting ready to sail for Troy. Penelope gives him a small wooden horse to bring home to their baby son. The footage then cuts between the Greek army, the fighting at Troy and Telemachus growing up, The Independent reported. The paper said every character is white and shows familiar signs of AI video, such as perfect teeth and airbrushed skin. The characters also speak English, not ancient Greek. "Pure garbage. As expected. Elon Musk has no taste," one X user wrote.independent.co.uk

Rolling Stone wrote that the clip borrows heavily from the look of Christopher Nolan's film but is less impressive. Even commenters open to AI described the acting as "soulless" and "wooden." The magazine counted 4 million views at press time. TechCrunch's Anthony Ha wrote that a few shots looked almost real but that the clip "feels completely airless." He said it gives viewers "no reason to care about anyone or anything on-screen".rollingstone.com+1

A feud with Nolan

The project started as Musk's answer to Nolan's "The Odyssey." Musk had attacked the film's casting of Lupita Nyong'o as Helen of Troy and Elliot Page as Sinon. In March he called Nolan "an anti-White racist" who "wants the awards," Variety reported. When Musk first promised the AI film, director Scott Derrickson replied that Musk's "opinions on art are worthless."variety.com

Nolan's film opened on July 17 and has passed $1.7 billion at the global box office. That makes it Universal's highest-grossing release ever, according to The Independent. The director has spoken openly about his doubts on AI, calling it "a Trojan horse that everybody knows the Greeks are inside."independent.co.uk

What comes next

Grok Imagine has not said how many episodes it plans or when they will come out. Its post only asked viewers whether they would like "a full breakdown of how it was done". Ha's verdict: "It's hard to imagine being interested in another seven minutes of this, much less a full movie's worth."techcrunch.com