Luca Guadagnino’s “Artificial,” a satirical take on OpenAI and the tech industry starring Andrew Garfield as Sam Altman, has received strong early reactions following its world premiere at the New York Film Festival.
The film arrives at a moment when Hollywood is increasingly turning its attention to Silicon Valley. With Aaron Sorkin’s “The Social Reckoning” also hitting theaters, “Artificial” offers a darker and more unsettling look at the people and companies shaping the future of artificial intelligence.
Early reactions from the New York Film Festival have largely praised Guadagnino’s sharp satire, with critics describing the film as both fiercely funny and deeply unsettling.
Andrew Garfield plays Sam Altman
Garfield portrays OpenAI co-founder and CEO Sam Altman, focusing in part on the extraordinary events surrounding his temporary removal from the company in 2023. Altman was ousted after disagreements with the board, which at the time included Elon Musk, before returning to his position just five days later.
The screenplay was written by Simon Rich, who also serves as a producer alongside Guadagnino, David Heyman, Jeffrey Clifford and Jennifer Fox.
The film was initially backed by Amazon MGM, which had previously financed Guadagnino’s “Challengers” and “After the Hunt.” However, Amazon dropped the completed project earlier this year, shortly after announcing a $50 billion agreement with OpenAI involving web services through Amazon Web Services.
Neon subsequently acquired the film and is preparing to release it in theaters on Christmas Day, Dec. 25, alongside an Oscar campaign.
A dark vision of the AI future
“Artificial” premiered on Oct. 5 at the New York Film Festival, where its combination of comedy and darker commentary quickly generated attention.
Early viewers have particularly highlighted Guadagnino’s biting approach to the tech industry. The film’s depiction of an increasingly AI-driven future has also left audiences unsettled, suggesting that its impact may extend well beyond its jokes.
With its combination of a high-profile subject, a major cast and Guadagnino’s distinctive filmmaking style, “Artificial” is already emerging as one of the most closely watched films of the fall awards season.
Neon will release “Artificial” in U.S. theaters on Dec. 25.
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