Dueling AI Documentaries Explore Promise and Perils

Two new films take different approaches to examining the impact of artificial intelligence on society

Published on Mar. 4, 2026

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Two new documentaries, 'Deepfaking Sam Altman' and 'The AI Doc,' explore the promise and perils of artificial intelligence. The films examine the growing debate around whether AI will be a catalyst for progress or a technological toxin that harms humanity. The documentaries feature interviews with leading AI executives like OpenAI's Sam Altman, Anthropic's Dario Amodei, and Google DeepMind's Demis Hassabis, as well as AI skeptics like Eliezer Yudkowsky.

Why it matters

As AI technology rapidly advances, with major tech companies seeing huge market value increases, there is growing public anxiety and debate about the societal impacts. These documentaries aim to confront these existential fears and utopian visions head-on, illuminating the complex issues surrounding the rise of AI.

The details

The documentary 'Deepfaking Sam Altman' takes a unique approach, using an AI-powered virtual doppelganger of OpenAI CEO Sam Altman as the main protagonist. Director Adam Bhala Lough created the 'Sam Bot' after failing to get Altman to agree to interviews, taking advantage of Altman's own controversial use of an AI-generated Scarlett Johansson voice. 'The AI Doc' explores the divide between AI's doomsayers and enthusiasts, featuring interviews with both skeptics like Yudkowsky and proponents like Diamandis.

  • The documentaries were released in 2026, coinciding with the rapid growth of AI technology in recent years.
  • OpenAI released an AI chatbot imitating Scarlett Johansson's voice in May 2024, which inspired the 'Deepfaking Sam Altman' documentary.

The players

Sam Altman

The CEO of OpenAI, a leading artificial intelligence research company, who has been compared to nuclear bomb inventor J. Robert Oppenheimer for his pioneering role in the field of AI.

Dario Amodei

The CEO of Anthropic, one of the major AI laboratories featured in 'The AI Doc.'

Demis Hassabis

The head of Google's DeepMind AI division, also interviewed in 'The AI Doc.'

Eliezer Yudkowsky

A renowned AI 'doomer' whose grim vision for the future of AI is featured in 'The AI Doc.'

Peter Diamandis

A technology enthusiast who makes the case for AI empowering humanity with superpowers in 'The AI Doc.'

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What they’re saying

“There is a lot of anxiety around AI, and the best way to get rid of that anxiety is to talk about it and confront it head-on.”

— Adam Bhala Lough, Director of 'Deepfaking Sam Altman' (The Associated Press)

“This train isn't going to stop. You can't step in front of the train and stop it. You are just going to get squished.”

— Dario Amodei, CEO of Anthropic (The Associated Press)

What’s next

The directors of 'The AI Doc' are hoping the film will inspire more open dialogue and debate about the future of artificial intelligence and its societal impacts.

The takeaway

These dueling documentaries on AI highlight the complex and often polarizing nature of the technology, with both utopian and dystopian visions for its future. As AI continues to advance rapidly, these films aim to foster greater public understanding and discussion around the promises and perils of this transformative technology.