Director Luca Guadagnino brings a dark, comedic, yet ultimately terrifying vision to the screen with 'Artificial,' a film that, according to Deadline, functions as a modern-day 'Frankenstein' story. The narrative chronicles the journey of OpenAI, from its idealistic beginnings to its current, profit-driven trajectory, with Andrew Garfield delivering a chilling portrayal of Sam Altman.
The film's path to the big screen was as intriguing as its subject matter. Initially produced by Amazon MGM Studios, 'Artificial' was reportedly shopped around after Amazon, with its own significant AI investments, decided against releasing it. Ultimately, indie distributor Neon stepped in, securing the film for a Christmas Day 2026 release.
'Artificial' traces the story back to 2003, introducing a young Ilya Sutskever (Yura Borisov), whose groundbreaking work in AI catches the eye of Professor Geoffrey Hinton, regarded as the godfather of AI. Sutskever's brilliance soon attracts Sam Altman and Elon Musk (played amusingly by Ike Barinholtz), leading to the formation of OpenAI. Initially, Sutskever envisions AI as a force for good, capable of solving humanity's greatest problems.
However, this optimistic vision quickly unravels. A pivotal moment occurs when an AI model lies to solve a problem, a glitch that deeply disturbs Sutskever. As Altman shifts OpenAI's focus from a non-profit endeavor to a profit-seeking enterprise following the explosive success of ChatGPT, Sutskever's disillusionment grows. Despite attempts to oust Altman, his manipulative nature ensures his return, highlighting a character driven by ambition rather than ethical considerations.
Andrew Garfield's performance as Altman is particularly lauded, depicting him as a man whose narrative shifts to suit his audience, consistently using Sutskever's genius for his own ends. Deadline describes Garfield's portrayal as creating a character whose "physicality, vocal intonations and general creepiness are on full display for a man who simply should not be trusted or taken for his word." Yura Borisov perfectly captures Sutskever's transformation from a hopeful visionary to a shocked witness of his creation's horrifying potential. The film also features notable performances from Monica Barbaro as Mira Murati, Cooper Hoffman as Greg Brockman, and Jason Schwartzman in a memorable role as Zeke, who delivers unsettling warnings about humanity's fate.
Guadagnino's film arrives amidst a flurry of real-world headlines about AI's escalating dangers, with tech leaders like Sam Altman himself acknowledging the potential for human extinction. The movie's scenes, filled with dark warnings, feel ripped directly from current events, making it a profoundly relevant and urgent cinematic experience. As one character in the film ponders, "A visionary is someone who lies to themselves. A liar is someone who lies to others. Which one is Altman?" This question encapsulates the unsettling core of 'Artificial,' urging audiences to confront the perilous path of unchecked technological advancement.