Amazon Won't Release Sam Altman Film 'Artificial' Following $50 Billion OpenAI Investment

Amazon Studios announced on December 15, 2023, that it will not move forward with the film "Artificial," which was slated to chronicle Sam Altman's temporary removal as CEO of OpenAI. This decision comes shortly after Amazon committed a substantial $50 billion investment to OpenAI, a move that solidified the AI research company's financial standing. The film's cancellation by Amazon Studios, a division of Amazon.com Inc., signifies a shift in the company's content strategy or a reassessment of its involvement with projects directly tied to OpenAI's internal affairs. "Artificial" was reportedly in development with a script by "The Social Network" writer Aaron Sorkin and "The Big Short" director Adam McKay attached to produce. The project aimed to capture the dramatic events of November 2023, when Altman was ousted by OpenAI's board before being reinstated days later with a new board structure. The film's development had been underway prior to Amazon's significant investment, which was announced on December 13, 2023, and is expected to be spread over several years. The exact reasons for Amazon's withdrawal from the film project were not disclosed, but the timing, juxtaposed with the massive investment, suggests a potential strategic alignment or a desire to avoid any perception of conflict of interest or undue influence.