Oscar-winning director Christopher Nolan, whose new film The Odyssey is dominating the box office, has compared artificial intelligence to a transparent Trojan horse, revealing that public rejection of the technology is extreme, especially among young people.
The myth comparison during an interview
Responding to a question from journalist Hugo Travers (aka HugoDécrypte), Nolan laughed at the parallel between AI and the wooden horse. "I think AI is a Trojan horse that everybody knows the Greeks are inside," he said, adding that it is "a transparent horse, made of glass." The myth is strong: just as the Greeks' gift concealed warriors ready to conquer Troy, AI may appear as an opportunity but hide darker risks.
A healthy skepticism, according to the director
Nolan called it "pretty encouraging" to see deep skepticism toward AI, especially among young people. "I've never seen a technology advancing so rapidly and being so completely rejected by the public," he stated. "The reaction to AI videos online is immediate: kids my children's age call them 'AI slop' and put them in a box." For the director, this skepticism is healthy because "technology will always give us great gifts, but it must be viewed with suspicion. The motives of those giving it to us also need scrutiny. That's how we get the best out of new tech, not by blind faith."
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Hollywood concerns and Nolan's role as DGA president
Nolan did not detail specific AI threats, but the issue is hot in Hollywood. During the 2023 writers' and actors' strikes, AI was a central point. The Directors Guild of America, which Nolan heads, secured protections against generative AI in its latest contract. These measures show the industry trying to curb potential abuses. In a broader context, the rising backlash against camera smart glasses from celebrities and activists highlights growing distrust of invasive technologies.
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A techno-skeptic who embraces innovation
Interviewed by the New York Times, Nolan described himself as a "techno-skeptic" rather than a technophobe. His passion for film comes from the fact that "it better represents the way the eye sees the world than any digital imaging system." He stressed that new technology is often sold at the expense of still-valid systems: "In my industry, we risked throwing the baby out with the bathwater. We almost lost film!" The Odyssey is the first feature film shot entirely on Imax film and cameras, proving innovation can coexist with tradition.
For further reading, check the related article: Rising backlash against camera smart glasses sparks celebrity and activist mobilization. Also, see the Wikipedia entry on the Trojan Horse for mythological context.
