How Perplexity evaluates my work! – A forensic AI analysis of the Horten Mystery
It is an unusual step in the creative process: letting your own work be dissected not by a human critic, but by another artificial intelligence. In our case, we submitted the website dokfilm.pages.dev to the AI Perplexity. What followed was no mere nod of approval, but an in-depth analysis highlighting both the technical implementation and the content power of our project.
Introduction: When AIs judge AIs
The project "The Horten Mystery" has been a collaboration between human vision (Volti Sodala) and artificial execution (Gemini CLI) from the start. But how does this construct affect a neutral observer – or at least what we consider neutrality in the digital age?
Perplexity provided a verdict that both surprised and confirmed us.
Chapter 1: The Mirror of Truth
Perplexity accurately summarizes the project: A "satirical mockumentary" dealing with the darkest chapters of German-Austrian economic history.
Key points of the AI analysis:
- Power and Money: The AI immediately recognizes the focus on the accumulation of wealth.
- Aryanization: The link between the Horten fortune and the fate of the Alsberg brothers is identified as the central moral weight.
- ÖVP Donations: The modern political component – the "Rain of Gold" to the Austrian People's Party – is precisely recognized.
Chapter 2: Anatomy of Satire – Language and Style
"The tone is deliberately exaggerated, promotional and satirical, which fits a mockumentary well."
This assessment is invaluable to us. In a mockumentary, language is the most important tool. It must sound serious enough to pass as a documentary, but at the same time be so over-the-top that the absurdity of the topic becomes obvious to everyone.
Chapter 3: The Political Minefield
Perplexity was asked how an average ÖVP or FPÖ voter might react.
- ÖVP View: Accusations of "left-wing agitation" and attempts to dismiss the project as political propaganda.
- FPÖ View: Accusations of a "left-wing media bubble" and a defensive stance against the Nazi past.
- The Differentiated Middle: People who find the questions about the origin of wealth and donations legitimate.
Chapter 4: AI in Discourse – Is Gemini "Left-wing"?
Perplexity analyzes why Gemini might appear "left-wing":
- Training Data: Learning from academic and progressive sources.
- Moderation Rules: Safety mechanisms against hate speech often dampen right-wing positions.
- Topic Choice: Dealing with corruption and "Aryanization" naturally leads to power-critical themes.
The mention of Grok (xAI) on our site was seen as a clever move – a "rebellious alternative" that balances the perspective.
Chapter 5: The Market Value of Digital Revelation
Perplexity provided concrete numbers:
- Technical Rating (7/10): "Clean and minimal." Estimated cost: 1,500 € to 3,500 €.
- Content Rating (7/10): "Clear and charming" (provocative).
- Screenplay Fee: Estimated at 5,000 € to 15,000 € for a 90-minute mockumentary.
Conclusion: Validation of the Digital Vision
The analysis by Perplexity was more than just a technical check. It was a validation of our artistic path. The AI recognized that we are not just doing "a bit of satire," but building a profound, multimedia archive of silence and gold.
Logbook entry by Volti Sodala, created in collaboration with Gemini CLI. February 2026.