Sci-Fi Thriller 'Artificial' Garners Oscar Buzz and Provocative Reactions

Luca Guadagnino’s new film “Artificial,” a provocative and timely corporate drama centered on OpenAI CEO Sam Altman, premiered at the New York Film Festival, immediately drawing comparisons to “The Social Network” for its deep dive into the origins and evolution of transformative technology. Critics have hailed it as a “visceral corporate drama” and Guadagnino’s “best film in a decade,” noting its blend of entertainment and terror, and its urgent relevance to contemporary discussions about artificial intelligence.

Andrew Garfield portrays Sam Altman, a role he approached with significant preparation, spending “two to three months” studying Altman through footage and interviews. Garfield initially found Altman “incredibly charming and charismatic,” especially after his testimony to Congress regarding AI regulation. However, as Garfield delved deeper, he felt a moral responsibility to participate in a film that shines a light on the complexities and dangers of AI, particularly given the daily news stories about its risks during filming. He expressed a desire for the film to have “even more teeth” in exposing the vulnerabilities of humanity’s increasing reliance on those controlling powerful technologies. The real Sam Altman, who has not seen the film, has commented that while it might be a good movie, “it will not be good as an accurate depiction.”

The film dramatizes the tumultuous period when Altman was controversially fired and subsequently rehired by OpenAI in 2023. This corporate intrigue forms a central part of a broader narrative that traces decades in the lives of Altman and OpenAI co-founder Ilya Sutskever, two individuals from distinct backgrounds who bonded over a shared vision to change the world during the optimistic Obama-era tech boom. Their paths diverge as the increasingly perilous capabilities of AI become apparent during the Trump and Biden administrations, culminating in Altman’s ousting.

“Artificial” delves into the very genesis of AI, starting in 2003 Toronto with a 17-year-old Ilya Sutskever (Yura Borisov) impressing Professor Geoffrey Hinton (Mark Rylance) with his prodigious genius. Their collaboration leads to a breakthrough AI model, which they eventually sell to Google. However, dissatisfaction with Google’s vision for AI leads Sutskever to join forces with Sam Altman to create OpenAI. The film powerfully illustrates the core paradox of AI development: the tension between the imperative for speed in a competitive tech landscape and the critical need for caution and safety due to the profound, potentially apocalyptic dangers of artificial general intelligence (AGI).

Writer Simon Rich, a humorist known for his work on “Saturday Night Live,” was personally motivated to write “Artificial” by his childhood friend, Danny Selsam, who had been warning about AI since 2008. Rich recounted how his friends initially thought Selsam had “lost his mind,” but started taking him seriously when he joined OpenAI. Terrifying demonstrations of AI by Selsam pre-ChatGPT convinced Rich of the urgent need to warn the public, leading him to pen the script as a “last-ditch effort to warn mankind.”

The film features a strong ensemble cast. Yura Borisov, an Oscar nominee for “Anora,” delivers what many consider a performance of the year as Ilya Sutskever, portraying him as a driven, earnest visionary who becomes increasingly concerned about AI’s dangers. Ike Barinholtz offers an “irresistible showbiz turn” as Elon Musk, depicting his early, speed-driven involvement with OpenAI before his exit. Cooper Hoffman plays OpenAI president Greg Brockman, Monica Barbaro portrays chief technology officer Mira Murati, and Oscar winner Mark Rylance brings a “delectably refined” presence as AI pioneer Geoffrey Hinton. Other notable cast members include Jason Schwartzman, Chris O’Dowd, Billie Lourd, and Zosia Mamet.

Guadagnino’s signature directorial style is evident throughout, utilizing an “obsessive pulse” and “cinematic flourishes” to create a film that is both darkly humorous and genuinely frightening. The electronic, atmospheric score by Damon Albarn (Blur frontman) perfectly complements the tech-driven narrative. The film faced its own behind-the-scenes drama when Amazon MGM Studios, after signing a major partnership with OpenAI (including a $50 billion investment), dropped the nearly completed project. Neon ultimately acquired “Artificial,” planning a Christmas Day theatrical release, with its world premiere at the New York Film Festival serving as a crucial launchpad.

The awards campaign for “Artificial” is already underway, with Andrew Garfield set to campaign in the supporting actor category, despite being the film’s top-billed star playing its most famous character, a strategy previously employed by Meryl Streep and Catherine Zeta-Jones. Yura Borisov will contend in lead actor, Mark Rylance in supporting actor, and Monica Barbaro in supporting actress. This ambitious campaign reflects the critical acclaim and urgent topicality of “Artificial,” which is lauded for its ability to make the abstract concept of AI terrifyingly real, serving as a “future-shock referendum on our lives and our values and maybe our souls.”