Andrew Garfield's AI Wake-Up Call: Why Hollywood Is Spooked

It seems even Hollywood's biggest stars are having their own 'come to Jesus' moments with artificial intelligence. Andrew Garfield, for one, has officially joined the tech-detox club, prompted by an unexpected source: playing OpenAI CEO Sam Altman in Luca Guadagnino's new film, “Artificial.”

Garfield was once among ChatGPT's massive user base, treating it casually as a 'fancy Google' for research. But immersing himself in the world of the company's origin story and Altman's dramatic 2023 ousting, even though he was reinstated five days later, shifted his perspective dramatically. The experience led him to dump the chatbot entirely.

“I got a bit scared,” he revealed at the “Artificial” premiere.

I felt a little mistrusting of the technology. It feels like the people who are encouraging us to use the technologies don't exactly know its capacities themselves. That feels a little irresponsible, to me personally.

This sentiment echoes growing public backlash over the rapid advancement of AI without fully addressing safety concerns, a central theme in “Artificial.”

The concerns aren't isolated to actors. OpenAI itself has faced hurdles, from the shutdown of its generative-AI video app Sora to warnings from former employees about AI companies 'gambling with our lives.' It's clear the stakes are higher than ever, and the industry is taking notice.

Luckily for Garfield, his profession doesn't rely on AI in the same way others might. “As an actor, I was using it as a kind of fancy Google for some research purposes. I know that it's not what it's meant for,” he admitted. Yet, the broader creative community is deeply concerned about AI's potential impact on jobs and the very essence of human creativity.

Despite the anxieties, Garfield remains hopeful about the enduring value of human artistry. “I don’t think actors are going to be rendered useless,” he asserted. “The soul of humanity is the soul of humanity. And I think actors are some of the people that have to hold the soul of humanity for all of us and stories.” This powerful belief underscores a common thread among artists who see their roles as protectors of human expression.

Garfield's portrayal of Altman has already garnered rave reviews, with some predicting an Oscar bid. Even Altman himself complimented Garfield's precise replication of his walk and mannerisms—a detail that made former OpenAI employee Will Angus describe it as 'spooky.' While Altman doesn't expect the film to be entirely accurate, the very act of portraying such a powerful figure highlights the film's broader ambition.

“I imagine it must be incredibly strange and surreal to be a young man, as he is, to know that there's a film where a version of him is being depicted,” Garfield reflected on playing Altman. As Luca Guadagnino wisely noted, it's our collective duty to interrogate the power wielded by those shaping our world. This film and Garfield's personal journey serve as a potent reminder of that responsibility.