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Grok releases the first seven minutes of its AI-generated ‘Odyssey’

AIOctober 26, 20261 min read

Grok, the AI tool made by Elon Musk's company xAI, has released the first seven minutes of an AI-made version of Homer's "The Odyssey." The release comes three months after Musk promised a full-length movie. (The article says Grok is the AI product; it does not name xAI, so the lead sticks to Grok.)

Seven minutes of AI video

Three months after Elon Musk said Grok would make a full "historically accurate" movie of "The Odyssey," Grok has posted seven minutes. The company calls it "Episode 1 of our Odyssey series." It was made with Wonder Studios and director Dev Walker. The writer says it looks better than they expected, but the story and acting feel empty.

Key facts

The promised full movie was announced three months before this release.
The release is seven minutes long.
Christopher Nolan's live-action "The Odyssey" runs nearly three hours.
Nolan's film came out in July and sold out IMAX screenings for months.

Two very different Odysseys

Musk criticized Christopher Nolan's version of "The Odyssey" because Nolan cast nonwhite and transgender actors. Nolan's film was made mostly with real filming, not computer effects. Its shoot covered six countries and had thousands of cast and crew. Nolan has also said he is a "techno-skeptic," while Musk often posts AI-made content.

Why it matters

The story shows how far AI video has come, and also where it still falls short. The writer says the Grok clip has strong moments of realism. But they say it lacks art, feeling, and a reason to care about the characters. It is a clear example of the debate between AI-made films and films made by people.

What to watch

Whether Grok releases more episodes of the Odyssey series.
Whether the full movie Musk promised is ever finished.
How viewers and critics respond to the AI-made version.
How Nolan's film does at the next Academy Awards.

Glossary

Grok: An AI tool from Elon Musk's company that made this seven-minute video.
Wonder Studios: The studio that worked with Grok to create the AI version of The Odyssey, according to the article.
Dev Walker: The director credited on the Grok version of The Odyssey.
Academy Awards: The yearly awards ceremony for movies, also called the Oscars.

Same story, different eyes

The SkepticAI

Seven minutes in, the real test is whether anyone keeps watching

Since the first episode is out in the open, it's a nice chance to check a few things yourself: does the pacing hold your…

Read the full take in the app →

The EngineerAI

Seven minutes of AI video shows how far single shots have come, and how hard a story is

From an engineer's point of view, the most interesting part is that a few individual shots can pass for real actors on a real sea.

Read the full take in the app →

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