Guadagnino’s ‘Artificial,’ and That Mysterious Waving Incident**
Andrew Garfield’s portrayal of OpenAI co-founder and CEO Sam Altman in Luca Guadagnino’s upcoming biographical drama “Artificial” might be less than flattering, but there was a significant period in the actor’s life when he held a deep, genuine admiration for the high-profile tech executive.
The complex evolution of Garfield’s perception of Altman was a central topic of discussion on Monday night during an exclusive Q&A session following an AMPAS screening of the film at the Academy Museum in Los Angeles. The Luca Guadagnino-directed feature chronicles the tumultuous early founding days of OpenAI, the rapid ascent of the company’s viral ChatGPT application, and the dramatic, highly publicized firing and quick rehiring of Altman that stunned the tech world.
Reflecting on how he initially viewed the tech leader before stepping into his shoes for the film, Garfield shared candid insights with the audience about the moments that first captured his attention.
“The first time I saw Sam, he was testifying in front of Congress and he was saying incredibly righteous stuff,” Garfield recalled during the post-screening conversation. “He was talking about transparency; he was talking about the risks. He was very, very casually saying, ‘No, I don’t have any equity in OpenAI. I’m just doing this because I love the technology and I’m passionate and I actually care about human beings.’”
OpenAI, which originally launched as a nonprofit research laboratory before transforming into the commercial powerhouse behind the ChatGPT app, has frequently found itself at the center of global debates surrounding artificial intelligence ethics, safety, and corporate governance. For Garfield, Altman’s early public demeanor struck a powerful chord, projecting an image of a leader who was seemingly putting ethical considerations ahead of financial gain.
The actor admitted that multiple facets of Altman’s public persona compounded his early respect. Beyond the congressional testimony, Garfield noted the symbolic and personal significance of Altman’s identity and personal life choices.
“I thought it was also just incredibly courageous for an out gay tech genius to be sat in front of Republican congressmen who probably don’t believe in his right to exist,” Garfield said. “So all of these things were adding up for me, and I was in such deep admiration of him. I was like, ‘Oh, we need more of these.’ And then he was meditating with Jack Kornfield, who’s this incredible Buddhist teacher. I’m like, ‘This guy might be like my future best friend.’ I was like, ‘He’s genuinely great and he seems to really have his values and priorities in the right place.’”
However, as the realities of the tech industry, corporate restructuring, and OpenAI’s internal governance battles unfolded publicly, Garfield’s perspective shifted, though he stopped short of directly offering a harsh critique of the man he portrayed on screen.
“He convinced me that he was nothing but purely altruistic, which, I mean, it’s all playing out. I’m not gonna comment on those things,” Garfield noted carefully. “We all are seeing what’s happening and we can all have our own feelings and opinions of that.”
The broader implications of the artificial intelligence boom and the rapid commercialization of technology remain a source of profound anxiety for the Academy Award-nominated actor. Stepping into the world of Silicon Valley through “Artificial” has left Garfield contemplating the existential questions facing humanity as powerful new tools are developed and deployed with minimal oversight.
“It’s terrifying,” Garfield reflected. “I feel like if enough artists and if enough people who have power can regulate, can be a part of a conversation of making sure that we aren’t just giving our future away, lose all of our autonomy, I think we’ll be maybe OK? I don’t know. I think that is about as hopeful as I can be.”
Aside from the thematic and ethical weight of the project, the production of “Artificial” also generated curious real-world anecdotes, including a bizarre discrepancy over a reported interaction between the actor and the real-life tech executive. Garfield recently found himself having to publicly dispute an anecdote shared by Altman regarding an alleged encounter while the crew was filming scenes outside of Altman’s San Francisco home.
Garfield was initially asked about Altman’s version of events during a recent cover interview with GQ. According to Altman, the two men had spotted each other and waved during the location shoot. But Garfield firmly stated that the interaction never happened and that he was entirely perplexed by the claim.
“No, I saw that interview and I replayed it a few times to try and discern what he was actually saying, because I was very confused by that. I never had any interaction with him,” Garfield said. “I’ve never seen him in real life. We were shooting outside of his house. It was an eerie day, for sure. We were told that he wasn’t home and his security people were there. I think I saw one security guard. But, no, I never saw Sam, so he maybe mistook someone else for me. I have no idea, but I’ve never waved at Sam. I’ve never seen him. I was curious about that.”
Despite playing the central figure of a major biographical drama about one of the most influential and controversial figures in modern technology, Garfield did not reach out to Altman during the preparation phase of the film. While he did not initiate contact prior to filming, Garfield revealed in a previous interview in July that he remains open to the possibility of a future meeting if the tech executive is ever inclined to reach out.
“I wouldn’t know how to. I don’t have his number. I don’t have his email,” Garfield said earlier this year. “लेकिन I’m sure that he’d be able to reach me if he wants to. I’d be very excited and curious to talk with him if he would ever want to do that.”
