Sundance Review: Ghost in the Machine Explores the Wrongs That Underlie A.I. Technology

      What is artificial intelligence, where did it originate, and how potent is it now or likely to be in the future? Valerie Veatch’s documentary, Ghost in the Machine, explores these questions, revealing both unsettling and predictable insights. This documentary presents a relatively quick and standard overview of the history of artificial intelligence—impactful, disheartening, and frustratingly ordinary.

      The film features numerous experts and research illustrating that the concept of artificial intelligence and its uses are rooted in eugenics theory. For those unfamiliar, eugenics encompasses various beliefs and pseudo-scientific notions intended to enhance the human species, though many of these ideas rely on racist premises. Veatch organizes her film into eight chapters, effectively building tension as we reach the modern era.

      OpenAI CEO Sam Altman appears frequently in archival footage, with one particular clip from 2016 where he remarks, “I think AI will lead to the end of the world, but in the meantime there will be great companies created with serious machine learning.” Additionally, viewers hear from Elon Musk and a range of philosophers, physicists, historians, linguists, and others. Dr. Dan McQuillan (author of Resisting AI: An Anti-fascist Approach to Artificial Intelligence) states that "When you tell it to find a pattern, it will find a pattern." This indicates that the biases embedded in the systems that create artificial intelligence dictate how it operates. True objectivity is unattainable when biased assumptions are treated as fact.

      The documentary highlights issues such as racist chatbots and the troubling updates of Grok that align with Nazi sympathies. It also addresses the unrealistic expectations surrounding A.G.I. (Artificial General Intelligence) that have since been reevaluated. The notion of effective altruism—optimizing wealth to aid humanity—faces distortion into a type of techno-fascism. Ultimately, it raises a critical question: what significant, practical purpose does A.I. actually serve?

      Ghost in the Machine is a somewhat inconsistent project. It appears that Veatch and her team amassed so much information that they felt the need to include every detail in the film. Consequently, it can be both impactful and overwhelming. The pacing is relentless, and the overarching focus often wavers. Nevertheless, historian Dr. Becca Lewis provides valuable context throughout, while Dr. Sorelle Friedler offers concise commentary in the final, troubling chapter.

      There’s a wealth of information presented, and the primary takeaway seems to be this: technocrats will not rescue us, nor will A.I. They will prioritize their own interests, hoarding resources and wealth for themselves.

      Ghost in the Machine premiered at the 2026 Sundance Film Festival.