When prompted to create an image of a Trojan horse, ChatGPT can generate two plausible images in about 30 seconds, allowing users to choose the better one. This ease and speed raise questions about the role of traditional artists and the need for tools like Photoshop in the creative process. With the advent of smartphones that remember names and numbers, humanity has largely forgotten how to memorize digits, and now AI has emerged as an even more powerful tool.
In less than a minute, we can use AI tools to produce essays, papers, photos, graphics, and videos for a reasonable fee. This convenience makes academic and professional tasks easier, providing more leisure time. For those who constantly seek rest, this seems like a happy existence. However, this newfound leisure comes at a cost, as it also diminishes human learning and experience.
While AI can create a Trojan horse in a minute, director Christopher Nolan constructed a real-life version standing 11 meters tall, reportedly weighing 3.6 tons, which was actually pulled by people. Nolan also created a similarly sized model of the Cyclops, a one-eyed monster, which stood 18 meters tall. For scenes featuring cannibal giants, he used actors of varying heights to emphasize the size difference between the species.
Nolan is known for his rejection of computer graphics, and his obsession with analog techniques seems to intensify with each new film. 'Odyssey' is the only film in the world shot entirely on IMAX film. He places great importance on the physicality of characters, backgrounds, and effects, and stubbornly continues to pursue challenging methods to capture subtle textures that younger audiences may not even notice. This dedication is possible because Nolan consistently meets both artistic and commercial expectations, making 'Odyssey' a masterpiece that could only emerge from Hollywood's resources and his vision.
Many have mocked Nolan's insistence on drawing audiences to IMAX theaters, questioning the need for such efforts. However, after watching 'Odyssey,' it becomes clear that his persistence cannot be dismissed as mere stubbornness. By invoking the guilt of Odysseus, who violated Zeus's laws, Nolan prompts viewers to reflect on the relevance of this ancient narrative in modern times. I interpret this as a commentary on 'guilt.'
Nolan's 'guilt' does not stem from personal wrongdoing but rather from the societal acceptance of rapidly advancing technology without skepticism. With AI capable of producing essays in seconds, some individuals feel overwhelmed and guilty, questioning whether such convenience is appropriate. The ancient law of Zeus, which encouraged hospitality towards strangers, served as a sacred obligation that everyone adhered to, even without enforcement. It was a minimal safeguard for human ethics and morality against barbarism.
However, Odysseus violated this law by using the Trojan horse to conquer Troy and slaughter its citizens. As a result, he faced divine wrath, leading to a ten-year delay in his return home, coinciding with a historical period marked by the collapse of Bronze Age civilization and a significant decline in Greek literacy.
Nolan draws parallels between Odysseus's downfall and the modern era's challenges posed by AI, urging humanity to engage in critical thinking. He likely hopes that, like Odysseus, people will confront their guilt. Just as Odysseus chose to return to humanity after seven years of indulgence in the pleasures of Calypso's lotus, Nolan seems to wish for contemporary individuals to hold onto their humanity amid technological advancements.
Nolan described AI as a 'Trojan horse' that everyone knows contains Greek soldiers. Unlike the citizens of Troy, who were unaware of the soldiers hidden within, we are now faced with a transparent horse, fully aware of the potential consequences. The time has come to decide whether to reject it outright, to feign ignorance and allow it in, or to establish a modern 'law of Zeus' to harmonize it with society.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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