Amazon's MGM Studios dropped a nearly completed biographical film about OpenAI's Sam Altman reportedly to protect Amazon's substantial business interests with the company—a $50 billion（約8兆円） investment plus a $38 billion（約6.1兆円） compute deal. The decision illustrates how tech billionaires who now own major film studios can suppress stories that reflect badly on their business partners, raising concerns about editorial independence in Hollywood.
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Amazon's MGM Studios halted production and dropped the film 'Artificial,' a $40 million（約64億円） biographical drama about OpenAI and Sam Altman directed by Luca Guadagnino, saying it would be 'better served if it were released by another studio.' The film, starring Andrew Garfield as Altman, portrays him unfavorably around the moment he was fired and then rehired in November 2023.
Why it matters
Amazon has $50 billion（約8兆円） invested in OpenAI and has struck a $38 billion（約6.1兆円） compute deal with the company, creating financial and personal ties (Altman was a guest at Jeff Bezos's wedding last year). The decision reflects a broader trend where tech billionaires—Amazon through MGM, Paramount through the Ellison family—now own and control major film studios, allowing them to influence which stories reach audiences and which do not.
What to watch
The film's unflattering portrayal centered on Sam Altman's perceived duplicity during 'The Blip,' while positioning Ilya Sutskever, OpenAI's former chief scientist who orchestrated the board's move against Altman, as the hero. Sutskever has since founded another company focused on safe artificial intelligence.
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