Doesn't surprise me. Cameron was always big on using practical special effects. It's why there was such a large gap in release between the original Avatar and The Way of Water. He wanted technology that would allow what he wanted to do underwater.
There were some headlines over the last year about him suddenly adopting AI which, while it seems out of character for him, probably prompted the need for the clarification here
There were some headlines over the last year about him suddenly adopting AI which, while it seems out of character for him, probably prompted the need for the clarification here