Now It’s Clear Why Amazon Didn’t Want to Release ‘Artificial’: It’s Withering AF
"Artificial," a new film by director Luca Guadagnino, premiered at the 64th New York Film Festival this week and charts the contentious rise of OpenAI through the perspectives of founder Sam Altman and chief scientist Ilya Sutskever. The film explores a fundamental clash: Sutskever's vision of developing AI as a force for human good against Altman's drive to build commercial dominance. The timing is pointed: Amazon MGM Studios dropped the film after its parent company invested $50 billion in OpenAI, a perfect illustration of the conflict at the story's core.
Spanning from 2003 to the present, the film follows Sutskever from studying under Geoffrey Hinton at the University of Toronto through his recruitment to OpenAI in 2014 as chief science officer, documenting how the company transformed from a nonprofit into a profit-driven enterprise. The narrative culminates in November 2023's dramatic boardroom coup in which Sutskever tried to remove Altman, only to see Microsoft and other backers orchestrate his swift return within days—presented as capitalism's triumph over safety concerns. A postscript featuring AI researcher Jacob Coxon's warnings about reckless AI development without adequate safety measures brings the story to late 2026, the moment of the film's release.
- Film chronicles OpenAI's shift from AI safety focus to profit-driven capitalism
- Amazon dropped film after $50bn investment in OpenAI, citing conflict of interest
- Centres on Ilya Sutskever's journey and the 2023 coup that cemented Altman's power
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"Artificial" is a new documentary film directed by Luca Guadagnino that examines the rise of OpenAI, one of the world's most influential artificial intelligence companies. The film focuses on two central figures: Sam Altman, the founder, and Ilya Sutskever, the chief scientist.
The film explores a fundamental conflict in their visions for the company. Sutskever prioritised developing artificial intelligence safely and for the public good, whilst Altman sought commercial dominance. This tension came to a head in November 2023, when Sutskever attempted to remove Altman from leadership, only for Altman to be swiftly reinstated after major investors, including Microsoft, intervened.
The film has become controversial for examining questions about commercial interests and safety in artificial intelligence development. Amazon MGM Studios initially acquired it but later declined to release it; the decision gained attention after Amazon's parent company invested heavily in OpenAI. The film includes warnings from researchers about developing advanced systems without adequate safety measures, a concern that remains central to ongoing debates in the technology industry.
Both sides, in good faith
The strongest fair case each way — we don't pick a winner.
The case for
Companies routinely make distribution decisions based on their commercial interests, and Amazon's $50 billion OpenAI investment provided legitimate reasons for caution. Withdrawing from the project reflects standard editorial discretion rather than suppression—the film premiered successfully at major festivals independently. Media companies must exercise judgement about projects that might antagonise vital partners, and shareholders expect protection of substantial investments. This is ordinary business practice, not censorship.
The case against
When corporations suppress critical examination of entities they have substantial financial stakes in, it undermines public access to important scrutiny. Amazon's withdrawal from distribution exemplifies the very corporate protection of power that the documentary itself critiques. Whilst the film premiered elsewhere, major studios control which stories reach mass audiences; when they withdraw distribution to protect their interests, it erodes the independence required for meaningful public discourse about corporate power.