As chatbots infiltrate society, it’s no shock that AI was a major focus at the 2026 Sundance Film Festival. This year’s event, the last to take place in its storied location of Park City, featured numerous panels and discussions on AI in storytelling. Notably, two documentaries tackled the complex conversation around AI, offering a comprehensive look at the anxieties and varied perspectives it evokes.
Valerie Veatch’s documentary, Ghost in the Machine (2026), provides an incisive examination of AI’s eugenicist roots. Through a blend of historical archives and Zoom interviews with experts across various fields, Veatch critiques AI’s alluring promises. Her film underscores the marketing façade of ‘artificial intelligence’ and its connections to a troubling history of eugenics, showcasing how the tech world inherits patriarchal and exclusionary ideologies.
The film further explores the troubling alliance between tech leaders and politically authoritarian figures, exemplifying the deep-rooted techno-fascism in America. Veatch’s adept use of archival footage and expert quotes paints a grim picture, making the documentary a compelling watch against unchecked AI advancement.
Conversely, The AI Doc: Or How I Became an Apocaloptimist (2026), by Daniel Roher and Charlie Tyrell, presents a more balanced view of AI. Utilizing Roher as the everyman, the film charts a path between doomsday fears and cautious optimism, aiming to inform viewers on how to challenge AI’s unchecked growth.
Both films conclude with a call to action, urging audiences to demand transparency and advocate for responsible AI practices. Ghost in the Machine is available online and in select locations until August 30, while The AI Doc is showing in theaters.
