Characters
I could tell by the sound of your voice over the phone. Very authoritative you know, like the Pope or the computer in 2001.
— Isaac · Manhattan
Behind the line May contain spoilers.
Our reading
An editorial interpretation.
The speaker explains how they judged the caller: the voice on the phone sounded commanding, on a par with the Pope or the computer in 2001. Pairing a religious figurehead with a machine makes the compliment slightly comic, admiring the voice's certainty while poking fun at it.
Context reviewed