Andrew Garfield says Sam Altman initially seemed ‘great’ before ‘Artificial’: ‘And then you learn more about a person’

Garfield spent two to three months studying footage of Altman before filming began

Andrew Garfield has opened up about portraying OpenAI CEO Sam Altman in Luca Guadagnino’s Artificial, revealing that his initial impression of the technology executive changed as he researched the role.

Speaking at the world premiere of Artificial at the NEW YORK FILM FESTIVAL on October 5, Garfield recalled watching Altman testify before Congress. At the time, the actor said he viewed him as honest, transparent and willing to discuss regulation around artificial intelligence.

Garfield said his first impression was that Altman seemed “f***ing great”, adding that he appeared charismatic and someone who could be trusted with significant responsibility. He then acknowledged that researching a real person can lead to a more complicated understanding of their public and private image.

The actor spent two to three months watching footage and listening to material involving Altman while preparing for the role. Garfield said he felt a moral responsibility in making the film because developments in artificial intelligence were generating new concerns throughout production.

“I wish we could give it even more teeth in a way,” Garfield said at the premiere, arguing that greater scrutiny is needed around the people being given significant influence and autonomy through technology.

Artificial dramatises the rise of OpenAI and the events surrounding Altman’s controversial removal and subsequent return as CEO. The film also features Yura Borisov as OpenAI co-founder Ilya Sutskever, Cooper Hoffman as Greg Brockman and Ike Barinholtz as Elon Musk.

Altman has not seen the finished film but has previously commented on its portrayal. In an interview with Vanity Fair, he said he understood the filmmakers were attempting to make a good movie, while indicating that he did not expect it to provide an accurate depiction of events.

The film was initially set for release through Amazon MGM before Neon acquired it. Artificial is scheduled to arrive in US cinemas on December 25, with Guadagnino directing from a screenplay by Simon Rich.

Garfield’s performance continues his history of portraying real people, following roles including Eduardo Saverin in The Social Network and Jonathan Larson in Tick, Tick… Boom!.