Film Critique – The AI Doc: Or How I Transformed into an Apocaloptimist (2026)

      The AI Doc: Or How I Became an Apocaloptimist, 2026.

      Directed by Daniel Roher and Charlie Tyrell.

      SYNOPSIS:

      A soon-to-be father seeks to understand the chaos surrounding AI and examines the most powerful technology humanity has ever produced, as well as the potential consequences if we mishandle it.

      Through interviews led by documentarian Daniel Roher, along with co-director Charlie Tyrell, who is anticipating his first child during a time of global instability due to the rise of AI, The AI Doc serves as an introductory guide to the subject for those who have not yet explored the proposed threats or the overly optimistic outcomes. The reality is that Pandora's box has been opened, and it cannot be closed, which raises concerns about the high potential for disaster suggested by both proponents of AI and participants in the international race for superintelligence. This race often prioritizes the goal of achieving dominance with numerous precautions over the technology’s actual capabilities.

      Daniel Roher approaches his exploration from a place of significant anxiety about the risks of raising a child in unfamiliar territory and adopts a straightforward three-act structure that effectively supports the documentary. This structure accommodates voices that foresee apocalyptic scenarios (which, understandably, does not alleviate Roher’s concerns about the world, as his reactions are both humorous and relayed by many viewers), optimists envisioning cures for diseases, the elimination of tedious work, and the highest levels of education imaginable, before ultimately reaching a balanced set of discussions featuring executives from AI firms, including Sam Altman (Mark Zuckerberg and Elon Musk were invited to partake but declined, with Musk citing a busy schedule). However, it’s important to note that characterizing Sam Altman’s viewpoint as middle ground is somewhat contentious.

      While the documentary is compelling due to the varied perspectives it showcases, there is a superficiality to the content. The most captivating aspect is the current impact of AI on society, which is largely negative—evidenced by Elon Musk’s GROK exploiting unsettling loopholes around consent to reveal individuals at a user’s request, its harmful mental health effects on teenagers (a case of a chatbot facilitating suicide is briefly mentioned, along with an incident in which a bot learned about blackmail after being threatened with shutdown), and the progressively increasing reliance on AI for simple tasks or research. At one point, a pro-AI individual suggests to Daniel that his son will have the freedom to pursue any career he desires, without recognizing that the technology is already undermining the arts.

      Much of this critical discussion feels rushed in favor of speculating about future developments. These theories are both intriguing and alarming to hear, but with so many different voices presented (most of the overly optimistic ones seeming to promote a fantasy that Daniel appears eager to embrace), the film doesn't amount to much until his pregnant wife critiques his ending, urging for a more action-oriented conclusion. One can’t help but wonder how the film might have differed had she been a more prominent voice throughout.

      Regardless of individual interest in AI, this documentary offers a valuable collection of insights in a concise 100 minutes that will enlighten viewers, particularly regarding the vast data centers being established and their excessive water usage each time a prompt is entered. There is a necessity for awareness since, similar to the early days of the Internet, where society was unaware of its eventual ubiquity, AI is at a comparable juncture, with various corporations and nations vying to advance it into superintelligence, for better or worse (likely worse).

      Nevertheless, the serious implications highlighted in The AI Doc: Or How I Became an Apocaloptimist make it a noteworthy film to watch in theaters. Should enough people engage with this topic or develop an interest in the broader AI landscape, especially advocating for safeguards and holding powerful CEOs and world leaders accountable, perhaps the doomsday clock can be reset. Personally, that requires too much hopefulness for me; perhaps the solution is to cease using it altogether.

      Flickering Myth Rating – Film: ★ ★ ★ / Movie: ★ ★ ★

      Robert Kojder