Musk's AI Odyssey Episode Draws Scathing Reviews From Viewers and Critics

Elon Musk released a seven-minute AI-generated video based on Homer's The Odyssey on Tuesday, and viewers quickly labeled it "soulless slop" and "absolute s***." The Tesla boss spent the summer criticizing Christopher Nolan's version of the epic before releasing his own alternative, which he created with Grok Imagine.

Musk had previously attacked Nolan's casting of Lupita Nyong'o as Helen of Troy, accusing the director of prioritizing diversity over artistic integrity. He promised to release a full-length, historically accurate film before the end of the year. The video released this week runs seven minutes and depicts Odysseus joining Greek forces for the Trojan War, featuring fighting scenes and a wooden horse.

The project was produced in less than two weeks by a team of three at a cost of tens of thousands of dollars, according to reports. It was created with London-based startup Wonder Studios and director Dev Walker. By contrast, Nolan's film, which stars Matt Damon, Anne Hathaway, and Tom Holland, has reportedly earned around $1.8 billion worldwide.

Reaction from viewers and critics was harsh. "Perfectly encapsulates Elon's taste. Absolute s***," one X user wrote. Peter Bradshaw of The Guardian awarded the video one star and compared watching it to viewing a computer screensaver. A Telegraph reviewer described the production as an assault on the eyeballs and criticized its visual inconsistencies. Others on X noted the video includes belt buckles, Medieval tunics, and late Roman cloaks alongside architecture that does not resemble ancient Greece.

Wonder Studios co-founder Xavier Collins said the team was not instructed to create an anti-woke version of Nolan's film. He said the goal was to explore what the technology can and cannot do. Collins said the team plans to address feedback regarding pacing and inaccuracies in the design of the ships.

Musk had vowed to produce a historically accurate adaptation of Homer's ancient Greek epic using Grok Imagine after taking issue with Nolan's casting choices. He promised a full-length film before the end of the year that would remain true to the art of Homer. The first installment arrived three months later at seven minutes in length.

The team plans to release subsequent episodes. Collins said the criticism regarding pacing and ship design would be taken on board for future installments.