AI is crucial for us to understand. So why does ‘The AI Doc’ feel made by a machine?

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Artificial intelligence is rapidly developing and already impacting our lives. Some believe it’s a temporary hype, while others see it as the key to a brighter future – or even a potential threat to humanity, with only some of us adapting to the changes it brings.

Artificial intelligence is a complex and fascinating subject, and it’s definitely worth exploring in film. But when I say ‘explore,’ I mean filmmakers should be thinking about AI, not simply letting AI make the film.

Daniel Roher, the director of the Oscar-winning film “Navalny,” and his co-director Charlie Tyrell, have created “The AI Doc: Or How I Became an Apocaloptimist,” a documentary aiming to explain the major challenges and opportunities presented by artificial intelligence. The film’s title comes from a term used by one of the many experts interviewed. While well-meaning, “The AI Doc” feels overwhelming and rushed, trying to cover too much ground too quickly, much like the technology it explores.

It’s easy to see why Roher took the approach he did with this documentary. He seems to believe most viewers are familiar with technology, but also feel worried and unsure about what AI actually is. However, his search for answers is presented with a somewhat overly sweet and simplistic style – his wife occasionally narrates as if telling a story, framing Roher as the hero of a thrilling, but frightening, tale. This storybook feel is reinforced by a busy visual style, using handmade art and animation that feels designed to keep our attention like it would a child, interrupting the more straightforward interviews.

Entertainment & Arts

Artificial intelligence is fundamentally changing how movies and TV shows are made in Hollywood, affecting everything from the stories we tell and how actors perform, to the production process, the jobs available, and who holds the power. In “Hollywood Tomorrow,” we take a comprehensive look at these changes.

The film features interviews with leading AI experts – including tech founders like Sam Altman and the Amodei siblings from Anthropic, as well as historians and scientists, both supporters and critics of the technology. They gather at the director’s home because he’s grappling with a personal question, as a soon-to-be father: is it right to bring a child into a world potentially shaped by AI?

More importantly, did Roher go too far by creating a documentary that portrays people as naive? The film first showcases those predicting AI disasters, seemingly accepting their claims that a powerful, uncaring artificial intelligence is imminent and cannot be trusted. Then, after building up that fear, it presents a very optimistic group who only see positive outcomes like medical breakthroughs and a future where everyone can pursue their passions without hardship.

It’s only after this basic introduction, filled with clichés, that the discussion truly begins, acknowledging the complex reality of the topic: a world marked by political tension, economic uncertainty, and the influence of the extremely wealthy.

Why did the documentary have to become so simplistic, resembling a naive cartoon like “The AI Doc” for so long? Perhaps the filmmaker thinks this is what people today – easily misled and skeptical of truth – need: a visually appealing, feel-good message about taking personal responsibility.

If you’re looking for a thoughtful and intelligent exploration of this potentially concerning technology, you’ll need to wait for the next version of our AI documentation.

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2026-03-27 13:32