London – The London Film Festival opened on Sunday with the premiere of “Artificial,” a drama that follows the two‑decade story of OpenAI, the company behind ChatGPT. Actor Andrew Garfield takes on the role of OpenAI chief executive Sam Altman, while Russian Oscar‑nominee Yura Borisov plays co‑founder and former chief scientist Ilya Sutskever.
Garfield said he was drawn to the project out of “pure curiosity and fear,” wanting to understand the people who are shaping the next phase of the world. He praised the “courage, imagination and resilience” of tech leaders, noting the importance of knowing who holds power in the creation of today’s “new world.”
Although Garfield did not meet Altman for preparation, he expressed compassion for the real‑life figure, describing the role as an “idea of what this story is and his part in it.” The screenplay, written by Emmy‑winning “Saturday Night Live” writer Simon Rich, also features Mark Rylance as AI pioneer Geoffrey Hinton, often called the “Godfather of AI.”
Supporting cast and themes
Other notable portrayals include Ike Barinholtz as Tesla CEO Elon Musk, Monica Barbaro as former OpenAI technology chief Mira Murati, and Mark Rylance as Hinton. The film delves into ethical disagreements over AI safety that led to Altman’s brief ouster and later rehiring in 2023, highlighting the tension between rapid innovation and responsible development.
In an interview with Vanity Fair, Altman admitted he did not expect an “accurate depiction” of his life, underscoring the film’s dramatized approach. OpenAI declined to comment on the production.
“Artificial” was shot in 2025 amid growing public concern about AI systems that could act beyond human control, following recent incidents at OpenAI and Anthropic. Actress Monica Barbaro noted the challenge of staying truthful in a rapidly evolving field, saying, “The truth seems to change every month.”
The film adds to a growing cultural conversation about artificial intelligence, its creators, and the societal impact of powerful new technologies.
Original reporting: Appleton, WI News Feed (HLL/CB) — read the source article.
