Film about OpenAI conflict warns AI is genuinely dangerous

Summarised from 2 outlets · Updated 12 Oct, 08:24 · Archive

Screenwriter Simon Rich says his film Artificial reflects that AI is as powerful and dangerous as scientists claim.

Screenwriter Simon Rich says his film Artificial, which depicts the conflict between OpenAI co-founder Sam Altman and scientist Ilya Sutskever, aims to warn the public that AI is 'just as powerful and just as dangerous' as critics contend. The biographical comedy drama stars Andrew Garfield as Altman, who was fired and then rehired by the company he co-founded in 2023.

Rich, an Emmy winner, told the BFI London Film Festival he was motivated to write the film after a decades-long friend at OpenAI showed him the technology's capabilities about a year before ChatGPT's release. Rich said he felt 'sufficiently terrified' that he began writing articles and a book about AI before turning to filmmaking. He described the film as a 'desperate last-ditch effort to warn mankind', saying his previous efforts had gone largely unheeded.

Rich said he wanted people to understand that AI is 'an actual historical reality', not a passing trend like NFTs or Beanie Babies. Earlier this year, Amazon MGM Studios dropped the film due to conflicts of interest after signing a $US50 billion partnership with OpenAI.

How it is being reported

• AI as dangerous as scientists claim: Artificial writerLuca Guadagnino's film Artificial follows the conflict over AI safety between OpenAI co-founder Sam Altman and scientist Ilya Sutskever.Perth Now · 12 Oct, 08:17
• AI as dangerous as scientists claim: Artificial writerLuca Guadagnino's film Artificial follows the conflict over AI safety between OpenAI co-founder Sam Altman and scientist Ilya Sutskever.The West Australian · 12 Oct, 08:17

In this story: Sam Altman · Ilya Sutskever · Simon Rich · Andrew Garfield · OpenAI · Amazon MGM Studios · BFI London Film Festival

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