Andrew Garfield says playing Sam Altman in Artificial changed how he views AI

Andrew Garfield has revealed that playing OpenAI chief executive Sam Altman in Artificial left him more wary of artificial intelligence, after spending time exploring the people and decisions behind a technology that is rapidly changing everyday life.

The actor, best known for films including The Social Network and The Amazing Spider-Man, took on the role for director Luca Guadagnino’s drama about the development of OpenAI and the leadership crisis that briefly saw Altman removed as chief executive in November 2023.

Preparing for the film prompted Garfield to think more deeply about how much is understood about the systems being developed and the people driving their expansion. He has said that the experience made him more distrustful of the technology, particularly because its capabilities and long-term consequences remain difficult for ordinary users to assess.

His reaction adds a personal dimension to a film built around a real-world debate: how quickly artificial intelligence should develop, who should be responsible for its risks, and whether the people creating increasingly powerful systems can fully anticipate what those systems may eventually do.

A drama about the people behind AI

Artificial traces OpenAI’s evolution across two decades, dramatising the personalities, disagreements and competing ambitions surrounding the company. Its story includes the extraordinary events of November 2023, when Altman was dismissed by the board before being reinstated days later following a period of intense internal conflict.

Garfield plays Altman, while Yura Borisov portrays former OpenAI chief scientist Ilya Sutskever. Monica Barbaro appears as Mira Murati, who briefly served as interim chief executive during the crisis, and Ike Barinholtz plays Elon Musk.

The film is written by Simon Rich and examines more than the rise of a successful technology company. It also looks at the tensions between commercial ambition, the desire to advance AI and concerns about the safety of the systems being built.

Watch the trailer here:

Why the story feels particularly relevant

Artificial intelligence has moved from specialist research into everyday conversations about work, creativity, education and personal privacy. As tools become more capable, questions about accountability and public understanding have become increasingly urgent.

Garfield’s change in attitude illustrates how portraying the people behind a technology can encourage a different perspective on its consequences. Rather than treating AI as an abstract innovation, Artificial puts the individuals making consequential decisions at the centre of the story.

The film premiered at the 2026 BFI London Film Festival and is scheduled for a theatrical release, bringing its dramatisation of OpenAI’s turbulent history to a wider audience.

Image credits: Michael Loccisano/Getty Images for FLC