“It’s worth talking about what that technology might be good at. I’ve been working with AI lately on the John Lennon and Yoko Ono documentary that we’re almost done with,” Soderbergh said.

He proceeded to elaborate on its specific application within the project, remarking:

“AI has been helpful in creating thematically surreal images that occupy a dream space rather than a literal space. And that’s been really fun because you need a Ph.D. in literature to tell it what to do. But like every other piece of technology, it desperately requires very close human supervision.”

Soderbergh offered additional details regarding the documentary’s objectives, revealing that he’d spoken to Sean Ono Lennon, who “was worried that young people have no idea what John stood for and he’s hopeful that our film will let them know what he did outside of making music”.

He added, “I’m excited for people just to hear it because of how open they both are about art and love, and politics, and how relevant everything they say remains.”

Soderbergh then clarified that only a small portion of the film contains AI-generated imagery, insisting, “Ninety percent of the visuals are archival stills, and 10 minutes, spread out over the 90-minute film, are these little pockets of images we created whenever they start talking philosophically.”

The Erin Brockovich director also claimed of his thought-process for using AI, “When there’s no literal component to what they’re saying, then I create these images that are kind of a surreal version of what their words try to transmit.”

While a debut date has not yet been announced, Soderbergh noted that he aims to wrap up production by May.