Artificial doesn’t pull punches in its scathingly comic look at OpenAI’s origins

In the tech world, where speed and innovation are paramount, Sam Altman's journey begins much earlier than his launch of OpenAI. The film Artificial, directed by Luca Guadagnino, aims to reveal the complexities behind the public persona of this tech icon. The story unfolds through the eyes of Ilya Sutskever (Yura Borisov), a young prodigy in a field dominated by brilliant minds.

Under the guidance of his professor and Google boss, Geoffrey Hinton (Mark Rylance), Ilya's ambitions are tempered by concerns about the potential dangers his creations could pose. When Sam Altman (Andrew Garfield) and Elon Musk (Ike Barinholtz) entice him to join a new startup, Ilya finds himself in a position where he must stand up to his most ardent supporter, risking the company's future.

Despite the title, Artificial focuses more on the human drama than on the technology. The film follows Ilya's evolution from an outsider with groundbreaking theories to a man whose company is on the brink due to his relentless drive. The cinematography, with its sleek visuals and sharp edits, adds to the sense of urgency and tension.

Guadagnino's unflinching portrayal of Sam Altman raises questions about the ethics of prioritizing speed over safety in the tech industry.