Sundance 2026: 'The AI Doc' Navigates the Human Element of the Artificial Intelligence Revolution

The 2026 Sundance Film Festival served as the launchpad for a compelling new documentary titled "The AI Doc: Or How I Became an Apocaloptimist." This cinematic exploration, crafted by the creative minds behind the Academy Award-winning "Everything Everywhere All at Once" and the acclaimed "Navalny," delves into the polarizing discourse surrounding artificial intelligence. At its heart, the film is driven by the personal trepidation of co-director Daniel Roher. As he prepares for the birth of his first child, Roher’s vulnerability provides a deeply human lens through which to view the daunting existential risks and the staggering potential of this transformative technology.

Working alongside Charlie Tyrrell, Roher investigates the rapid evolution of AI tools and the societal price of their widespread adoption. Scheduled for a broad theatrical release on March 27, 2026, under the Focus Features banner, the documentary employs a rich tapestry of expert interviews, intimate home video footage, and vivid animation to demystify complex technical concepts. The narrative features a diverse spectrum of voices, ranging from tech entrepreneurs to specialized researchers, whose outlooks on the future fluctuate between bleak pessimism and utopian idealism.

Among the prominent figures featured is Sam Altman, the CEO of OpenAI, who offers a perspective of measured optimism. While Altman admits to the unsettling velocity of technological advancement, he maintains that he does not fear a world integrated with AI. Interestingly, Altman shared that he turned to ChatGPT for guidance during his first weeks of fatherhood. He further posits a provocative future: while his children, born in 2025, may not possess a higher raw intelligence than the AI systems of their time, they will likely enjoy vastly expanded opportunities by leveraging these powerful digital tools.

The documentary also highlights the cautionary stance of technologists like Tristan Harris, co-founder of the Center for Humane Technology. Drawing parallels to the unintended consequences of social media, Harris emphasizes the urgent need to address the foreseeable dangers of unregulated AI development. He advocates for a "narrow path" defined by rigorous ethical responsibility. This viewpoint stands in sharp contrast to the accelerationists also profiled in the film, who view AI as the ultimate panacea for global crises, illustrating the deep ideological divide currently shaping public debate.

Ultimately, "The AI Doc" concludes that the dawn of the AI era is an inevitable reality that demands immediate global attention. The film introduces the concept of "apocaloptimism" as a way forward—a strategy rooted in international cooperation, corporate transparency, and clear legal frameworks for accountability. Peng Xiao, the CEO of G42, adds a strategic dimension to the discussion, noting that the future of intelligence is fundamentally linked to energy production, famously stating that the "cost of intelligence will eventually mirror the cost of energy." The film ends with a stirring call for the public to actively participate in steering a future that has already arrived.