The first trailer for "Artificial," a film chronicling the rise of OpenAI and its controversial CEO Sam Altman, has been released. Starring Andrew Garfield as Altman, the movie, distributed by Neon, is slated for a Christmas Day theatrical release.
The trailer offers a glimpse into a narrative that appears to blend the dramatic events surrounding OpenAI's leadership crisis with a speculative AI apocalypse theme. Garfield's character is shown in ominous settings, including a futuristic bunker filled with hydroponics and weapons, raising questions about the film's plot and its connection to ChatGPT's underlying technology.
Voice-overs in the trailer suggest a dramatic arc, with lines like "We've created a machine that will solve the world's problems" evolving into "Countries will fall — industries are gonna collapse." This sets a tone of impending global upheaval, framing the story around the tech executive drama.
"Artificial" is set to dramatize the events of November 2023, when Sam Altman was abruptly fired as OpenAI CEO, leading to a period of chaos and uncertainty before his reinstatement. The saga, which involved significant developments with Microsoft and threats of mass employee departures, became a major business story.
The film also has a notable production history. Originally set up at Amazon MGM Studios, the project was dropped by Amazon shortly before the company entered into a substantial partnership with OpenAI. Despite no official confirmation of a link between these events, the timing prompted speculation. After passing on the film, Netflix, A24, and Focus also declined distribution before Neon acquired the rights.
Directed by Luca Guadagnino and written by Simon Rich, "Artificial" is positioned for a theatrical run on Christmas Day, contrasting with traditional holiday film fare by exploring themes of technological advancement and corporate intrigue. The film's release date places it against other major holiday releases, offering audiences a dramatic, tech-centric alternative.
