To "AI," or Not to "AI"?
Behind the Scenes of "The Invisible Everywhere"
Glorious Day, My Precious Fellow Traveler —
Today is the world premiere of The Invisible Everywhere!
After more than a year of sweat, blood, and tears - and, above all, prayers! - the theater doors are now open, globally.
Whoever you are … wherever you are … whatever you believe … whatever you don’t believe … grab your popcorn and drink … then go to TheInvisibleEverywhere.com … get your ticket … and prepare for a stunning journey into the great invisible unknown.
This is not your grandfather’s documentary. This is not your conventional Hollywood movie. It’s a full-length motion picture created by one person (me), using a desktop computer, and consumer-level AI video generators.
We’re told on good authority it’s the first time in human history such a thing has been achieved. Whether it’s true or not …
To God alone be the glory!
Mailbag Ministry
A fellow traveler recently send me this message:
“Why are y’all so proud about using AI to create this [movie], rather than actual human beings?”
- A. L.
My Reply
Thank you for your understandable question.
AI is causing a great deal of anxiety and disruption, the loss of jobs being one obvious example. I take that matter very seriously and have written extensively about it - most recently in a “30-Minute Science Pocket Guide” I published titled “Artificial Intelligence.” If interested, you can obtain a copy of it here: www.michaelguillen.com
Given that very real, shared concern, I can understand why you would ask: “Why are y’all so proud about using AI to create this [movie], rather than actual human beings?”
There are many reasons I’m proud of The Invisible Everywhere and how it was made. Briefly, here are three of them.
1. This movie would not have been made without AI.
The previous movie I made - LITTLE RED WAGON - was produced in the traditional way. It required $8 million, a crew of hundreds, and five years to produce. It was shown in theaters, then sold as DVDs by Walmart (where it became a bestseller), then shown on Netflix. Currently, it’s on Amazon Prime, Apple TV, Fandango, Tubi, and other platforms. It’s distributed by Lionsgate.
If made in this traditional way, The Invisible Everywhere would’ve cost me $10 million (because of all the required special effects), which I didn’t have and would’ve been difficult to raise in the current, depressed Hollywood climate.
AI made it possible for me to make the movie by myself, on my desktop computer, for about $25,000.
2. AI is not all bad.
Like all previous, major, disruptive technologies, AI has the potential both for harm and for good. The discovery of nuclear energy led to the creation of the A- and H-bombs, which have the power to annihilate us. But it also led to the entire field of nuclear medicine, which has saved countless lives. Radiation therapy kept my mother alive for years after she was diagnosed with breast cancer.
Yes, AI is putting many people out of work - for which I grieve - but it’s also employing many other people in entirely new positions. As a species we are constantly forced to adapt to changing environments - the AI revolution is just one example of that.
I’m confident we’ll end up being wiser and stronger because of AI. I published an essay about this on my Substack platform recently. You can read it here: https://www.morethanmeetstheiq.com/p/the-very-good-news-about-ai
3. Opposition is often driven by fear and close-mindedness.
We’ve seen this drama before. In 1609 Galileo built the world’s first telescope, which enabled our species to behold things never before seen: Jupiter’s moons, Venus’s phases, and lunar craters. Yet many fearful and ill-informed people of his day refused to look through, or even go near, the telescope.
Likewise, in 1450, Johannes Gutenberg invented the metal movable-type printing press, making it possible to produce books en masse and thereby increasing the world’s literacy rate. Yet many fearful, ill-informed people hated and railed against the invention because it put scribes out of work.
Conclusion
Love it, hate it, fear it, welcome it, AI is here to stay. My commitment as a scientist, Christian, and conscientious human being is to do everything in my power to make sure AI’s positive potentials are realized.
I believe that AI enabling me to make a beautiful, uplifting movie about the awe and majesty of the universe and human life - without a Hollywood-sized budget or crew - is a reason to celebrate, because it represents the empowerment of the individual over the tyranny of the establishment.
I call it the “Power of One.” Unlike any other technology we’ve invented, AI makes it possible for one person to unleash her or his native creativity.
As someone who was born in East Los Angeles, without a silver spoon in his mouth - without any connections to power - I’m not just proud of what I’ve achieved with this groundbreaking movie, I’m hopeful it will bless generations of people earnestly seeking for truth long after I’m dead and gone.
If you aren’t one already, please consider becoming a Founding or Paid Subscriber. It will help support my efforts to speak truth with love … to a world sorely in need of both.
Thank you and God bless you.
Love,
