Andrew Garfield says portraying OpenAI CEO Sam Altman in Luca Guadagnino’s upcoming film Artificial changed the way he thinks about artificial intelligence — enough that he stopped using ChatGPT.
Speaking around the film’s New York Film Festival premiere, Garfield said he had previously used the chatbot mainly as a research tool, describing it as a more elaborate version of a search engine. Preparing to play Altman, however, left him more cautious about the technology and the uncertainty surrounding its rapid development.
The actor said the experience made him uneasy about how much remains unknown about AI’s future capabilities and social impact.
Artificial turns Silicon Valley drama into a movie
Artificial dramatizes the turbulent 2023 period when Altman was removed as OpenAI CEO and then reinstated days later. Garfield plays Altman, while Yura Borisov portrays Ilya Sutskever and Ike Barinholtz appears as Elon Musk.
The film is directed by Guadagnino and has already generated attention for Garfield’s physical and vocal transformation. Altman himself has commented on the actor’s recreation of his walk and mannerisms, while also suggesting that the movie takes creative liberties.
Garfield says actors still matter in an AI era
Despite his concerns about the technology, Garfield expressed confidence that human performers will continue to have a place in storytelling. He argued that acting depends on lived human experience and emotional connection rather than simply reproducing information.
Artificial is scheduled for a U.S. theatrical release on December 25. With AI remaining one of the most debated issues in entertainment and technology, Garfield’s comments add a personal dimension to the conversation surrounding the film.