Film Offers "Scathing Portrait" of OpenAI CEO Sam Altman

A new film titled "Artificial" presents a critical portrayal of OpenAI CEO Sam Altman, depicting him as a "liar with the aura of a visionary" and a figure "unconstrained by truth." The movie, which received four stars in a review, is described as a timely comedy-drama shaped around secret memos circulated in 2023 by OpenAI's chief scientist and co-founder Ilya Sutskever.

The film reportedly contrasts Sutskever, portrayed as awkward and incapable of lying, with Altman, characterized as charming, manipulative, and possessing an almost king-like ability to influence others. Andrew Garfield stars in the film, with a performance that is noted for its "lithe, sinuous quality," capturing a character who appears to be perpetually "wriggling out of an imaginary noose."

"Artificial" delves into the human dynamics behind the building of a tech empire, drawing comparisons to films like "The Social Network," "Steve Jobs," and "BlackBerry." The narrative explores the escalating AI arms race and the growing concerns of Sutskever and colleague Mira Murati regarding the technology they are developing.

The movie's script is by Simon Rich, a writer for "Saturday Night Live," and the score is by Damon Albarn of Blur. Directed by Luca Guadagnino, the film's themes of desire, seduction, and shifting power dynamics are noted as characteristic of his work. While referencing Stanley Kubrick's "2001: A Space Odyssey," the film posits that AI itself is not the villain, but rather the human behaviors of ambition, vanity, greed, and tribal loyalty that shape it.

The review suggests that responsibility is not on Altman's agenda, describing his on-screen persona as moving like a snake and blessing employees with affirmations reminiscent of a cult leader. The film's potential relevance is heightened by recent warnings from former Anthropic researcher Jacob Coxon, who cautioned that AI could spiral out of control and pose an existential threat.

Adding to the intrigue, Amazon MGM reportedly dropped distribution of "Artificial" shortly after announcing a partnership with OpenAI. The review concludes that if major tech companies are hesitant for the film to be seen, it is likely worth watching. "Artificial" is scheduled for release in cinemas on January 22.