Google bets on movies to change public opinion on AI

Google is launching a counteroffensive against Hollywood’s traditionally dystopian AI narratives by funding short films that explore more nuanced relationships between humans and artificial intelligence. The initiative, called “AI on Screen,” emerges as Google competes in the increasingly crowded AI development space with rivals like OpenAI, Anthropic, Apple, and Meta, while simultaneously trying to shift public perception of the technology.

The big picture: Google has partnered with talent management company Range Media Partners to fund short films depicting AI in more balanced scenarios than the killer robots and dystopian futures popularized in films like “The Terminator” and “Ex Machina.”

• Two films have already been greenlit: “Sweetwater,” directed by and starring Michael Keaton, about a man who discovers a hologram of his deceased celebrity mother, and “Lucid,” which explores a couple using technology to share dreams.
• The initiative comes as polling shows mixed public sentiment about AI, with a 2024 Bentley University and Gallup survey revealing 56% of Americans see AI as doing “equal amounts of harm and good” while 31% believe it does “more harm than good.”

What they’re saying: Mira Lane, Google’s vice president of technology and society, explained the motivation behind the initiative stems from the need to explore more balanced perspectives on AI.

• “Narratives about technology in films are overwhelmingly characterized by a dystopian perspective,” Lane said. “When we think about AI, there’s so much nuance to consider, which is what this program is about.”
• Lane described the initiative’s goal as exploring questions like “How might we tell more deeply human stories? What does it look like to coexist? What are some of those dilemmas that are going to come up?”

Behind the numbers: Google’s investment in these narratives reflects its substantial stake in positive public perception of AI technology as it competes in a market with fierce competition from companies like OpenAI, Anthropic, and major tech firms.

What’s next: Google plans to fund many more short films through the initiative, with some potentially developing into feature-length movies.

• Creators working with Google receive access to the company’s technical experts who can provide insights into real-world AI applications and technological feasibility.