It’s not easy to get an interview with Sam Altman—just ask Adam Bhala Lough, the filmmaker behind The AI Doc. After months of being ignored, he resorted to deepfaking to get his chat, only for Altman and other CEOs to deliver clichéd answers on their responsibilities.

The film, which premieres March 27, is framed by codirector Daniel Roher’s anxiety over passing on a world dominated by AI to his first child. Despite the panic, Roher provides an accessible overview of AI risks, but falls short in interrogating the grand claims of tech optimists.

While the documentary accurately details how unregulated AI has concentrated wealth and power, it ultimately leaves viewers with a feel-good message that relies on collective action rather than challenging the current industry players. The film’s vision of positive change is hazy, perhaps clouded by the necessity of an optimistic ending for Roher’s expanded family.

Following the screening at Los Angeles’ Academy Museum, producer Ted Tremper emphasized that the movie was a step toward raising awareness but acknowledged it could never encompass everything. However, the film encourages audiences to take action, suggesting that collective opinion can shape the future of AI.