Luca Guadagnino addressed the audience at the New York Film Festival premiere of his film Artificial by stating that the desire to play God is compelling to him. The movie serves as a satirical biopic about Sam Altman, focusing on power dynamics and the drive for control within the tech sector. The narrative adheres closely to the real events surrounding the OpenAI CEO’s ascent and his subsequent removal from the company. A striking opening shot of the Golden Gate Bridge sets the tone for the story of constructing all-powerful AI systems.
This approach matters because it grounds a controversial subject in factual accuracy rather than pure fiction. By mirroring the actual timeline of Altman’s career, the film forces viewers to confront the genuine risks of concentrating influence in artificial intelligence. The satire does not obscure the reality of corporate ambition behind the technology.
- The film premiered at the New York Film Festival in October 2026.
- It depicts the brief ouster of Sam Altman from OpenAI.
- Golden Gate Bridge imagery symbolises the construction of powerful AI.




