Screenwriter Simon Rich warns that AI is as powerful and dangerous as scientists claim

Rich says the upcoming film Artificial aims to alert audiences that artificial intelligence is a historic reality, not a passing fad.

By Felo News Desk · Published Mon, 12 Oct 2026 06:45:49 GMT

Screenwriter Simon Rich told the Press Association ahead of the BFI London Film Festival screening that the film Artificial is intended as a warning about artificial intelligence, describing the technology as “just as powerful and dangerous” as scientists claim.

What happened

Rich discussed the film, a biographical comedy‑drama directed by Luca Guadagnino and starring Andrew Garfield as OpenAI chief executive Sam Altman, at a press briefing on 12 October 2026. He explained that the story follows Altman’s 2023 firing and rehiring at the company he co‑founded.

What the reports add

The Standard noted that Rich likens AI to past fads such as NFTs or Beanie Babies, calling it a “historical reality”.
Both Standard pieces report that Rich’s oldest friend, an OpenAI scientist he met in kindergarten, showed him early OpenAI work about a year before ChatGPT launched, terrifying him enough to write articles, a book, and ultimately the film.
The articles reveal that the film was initially dropped by Amazon MGM Studios after the studio signed a $50 billion partnership with OpenAI, but Neon – the studio behind Anora and Parasite – later picked it up for release.
Rich said he was “relieved and excited that the film exists at all” after Neon’s support.
The cast includes Sir Mark Rylance as Geoffrey Hinton, and the film portrays real‑life figures such as Ilya Sutskever, Mira Murati, Greg Brockman and Elon Musk.

What was said

“I just want people to accept that AI is real. It’s not, unfortunately, a fad like NFTs or Beanie Babies. It is an actual historical reality that this technology now exists, and it’s just as powerful and just as dangerous as the scientists claim that it is.” – Simon Rich, Press Association, Standard

“I came to this subject in a very unusual way, which is that my oldest friend in the world, who I met in kindergarten, is an OpenAI scientist. He has been warning me about this technology for decades.” – Simon Rich, Press Association, Standard

“I didn’t start to take him seriously until he joined this small non‑profit called OpenAI. About a year before ChatGPT came out, he showed me what they were working on, and I was sufficiently terrified that I felt the urge to warn people.” – Simon Rich, Press Association, Standard

“I’m just really relieved and excited that the film exists at all. It’s challenging to make films about subjects like that and I think it’s really cool that Neon has supported the film and I can’t wait for people to see it.” – Simon Rich, Press Association, Standard

“Playing a real person who is still alive is definitely a challenge. But what’s nice about it is usually they are interested to meet me, so I get to meet them and talk to them.” – Sir Mark Rylance, on portraying Geoffrey Hinton, Standard

How it came about

Rich’s remarks echo the broader discussion of AI governance raised at the United Nations General Assembly in September, where Secretary‑General Antonio Guterres called for global interdependence and highlighted artificial intelligence as a high‑level agenda item (see Felo coverage). The film’s development reflects growing cultural interest in the societal impact of AI.

Key facts

Screenwriter Simon Rich says AI is "just as powerful and dangerous" as scientists claim. (standard.co.uk)
The film "Artificial" stars Andrew Garfield as Sam Altman and is directed by Luca Guadagnino. (standard.co.uk)
Rich described his oldest friend, an OpenAI scientist, as the inspiration for his interest in AI. (standard.co.uk)