Ashley St. Clair and Alex Gibney on AI and the dangers of Elon Musk

Venice, Italy (AP) — A fresh documentary on Elon Musk employs an Artificial Intelligence avatar to replicate an interview with the SpaceX and Tesla CEO using actual quotes from his interviews. Director Alex Gibney disclosed this decision during the film's world premiere in Venice, emphasizing its ironic nature. The documentary references Musk's proposition about living in a simulated reality while also mocking his inconsistent views on the technology.

The filmmakers sought legal approval before introducing the AI avatar. The Oscar-winning filmmaker was accompanied by Ashley St. Clair, a former conservative influencer who shares a child with Musk and is featured in the film. She discusses their relationship, his character, and the non-disclosure agreement she was offered but declined to ensure paternity support, stating, "I was offered the opportunity not to speak for $40 million."

The film delves into Musk's acquisition of X and the manipulation of its algorithm. Gibney reveals how Musk altered Twitter's algorithms to prioritize vitriol and hate over constructive discourse. Zoë Schiffer, a "Wired" reporter also in the film, adds that Musk has manipulated the algorithm to suppress mainstream journalism and amplify inflammatory comments.