OpenAI film 'Artificial' turns lens on creators of 'new world,’ Andrew Garfield says

Actor Andrew Garfield brought curiosity and fear to his portrayal of OpenAI CEO Sam Altman in Luca Guadagnino's film "Artificial," which premiered at the London Film Festival. Set over two decades, the movie details the creation and evolution of the artificial intelligence company, including Altman's dramatic firing and subsequent rehiring in 2023.

Garfield explained that his fascination stemmed from the courage, imagination, and resilience demonstrated by the individuals steering humanity into a new era of AI. Like his previous role in "The Social Network," Garfield did not engage with Altman before preparing for the part, stating, "I don't know Sam and I have compassion for someone my age with a movie about him."

OpenAI did not respond to a request for comment from Reuters. The film, screened in 2025, features Yura Borisov as co-founder and former chief scientist Ilya Sutskever, who resigned due to his role in Altman's dismissal, and Mark Rylance as Geoffrey Hinton, known as the "Godfather of AI." Ike Barinholtz plays Tesla CEO Elon Musk, while Monica Barbaro portrays Mira Murati, OpenAI's former technology chief.

With Simon Rich's screenplay, "Artificial" delves into the ethical conflicts and differences regarding AI safety between Altman and Sutskever.