The chaotic events surrounding the firing and subsequent rehiring of OpenAI’s co-founder and CEO, Sam Altman, are set to be adapted into a movie. Titled Artificial, the film is in development at Amazon MGM Studios. The movie will dramatize the five-day period in November 2023, when Altman was unexpectedly dismissed from his CEO role, only to be reinstated after intense discussions and negotiations.
Although the details are still being finalized, sources revealed that Luca Guadagnino, renowned for films like Call Me by Your Name and Challengers, is in talks to direct the project. The movie’s cast is also taking shape, with Andrew Garfield reportedly being considered for the role of Sam Altman. Monica Barbaro, known for A Complete Unknown, is in line to portray former OpenAI CTO Mira Murati, while Yura Borisov, star of Anora, is eyed for the part of Ilya Sutskever, another co-founder who played a key role in the push to remove Altman.
Simon Rich, a writer for Saturday Night Live, has been tasked with penning the screenplay, which suggests the movie may incorporate comedic elements. This approach seems fitting given the absurdity of the real-life events, particularly considering the role AI tools like ChatGPT have come to play in everyday life.
The film is set to capture a dramatic chapter in OpenAI’s history, highlighting the tension within the company and the high-stakes decision-making that led to Altman’s removal and swift return. It will be interesting to see how the film portrays these events and what impact it will have on public perception, especially in light of the growing prominence of AI technologies.
