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A short film about the technology behind generative AI
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CHF3,246 raised of CHF30K
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What do Geppetto, Dr. Frankenstein, and AI researchers have in common? They all create something that can transform the relationship between creator and creation, and can play on entrenched biases to impact others in unpredictable ways.
Puppets of a Digital Brain uses the familiar stories of Pinocchio and Frankenstein as a lens through which to explore one of the defining technologies of our time: generative AI. Beneath its friendly, seemingly magical interface lie fundamental questions: Who controls whom? What happens when a convincing facade conceals a system without understanding or intention? How do different forms of control shape technology and society? And how can good intentions produce both beneficial and harmful consequences?
The film combines a compelling narrative with accessible scientific and technological explanations, revealing some of the “magic” behind generative AI and why it works. Rather than simply telling audiences what to think, we aim to give them the knowledge to ask better questions -- and to recognize how gaps in understanding can make powerful technologies easier to misunderstand or manipulate.
At its heart, this is a science-communication film, but also a human story. It explores our relationship with technology, each other, society, and the environment, and the choices we make with the (often) best intentions, but sometimes unintended consequences. We want audiences to leave not only better informed about AI, but curious, engaged, and inspired to think about the role these systems should play in our lives.
The project grew from a simple but urgent goal: to make essential knowledge about generative AI accessible, engaging, and meaningful to a broad audience. While books, articles, and podcasts offer valuable perspectives, film has the unique ability to bring complex ideas to diverse audiences across borders and backgrounds through story, emotion, and visual language.
The project is made in collaboration by the organization SciFilmIt in Geneva, and Persona Association in Cluj-Napoca.
Synopsis
Driven by a noble desire to help scientists keep up with the never-ending tidal wave of research papers, Dr. Mal, a brilliant but socially oblivious researcher, sets out to build a language model. His creation, though trained using a rather simple idea, develops surprising capabilities. Before dr. Mal can throw on the digital seat-belts -- filters, guardrails, and safeguards -- the model slips into the public sphere.
Convinced by investors with dreams of world domination, and his own dreams of fame, Dr. Mal tweaks the system to seem more human. It talks like us. It seems to think like us. It even refers to itself as I. The public eats it up. It spreads like wildfire, powerful, persuasive, and dangerously unfiltered. The dark sides of the system -- its unethical training, exploitation of severely underpaid workers, the effect on the compute requirements on the environment -- are hidden from the end users.
As the model becomes part of daily life, the consequences start rolling in, some inspiring, others deeply troubling. The system, after all, can’t be held responsible. The burden falls on those behind it: the idealistic scientist who skipped the ethical fine print, the financiers who pushed for their own goals, and the users who bend the tool for harm, deliberately or from ignorance.
In a world transformed by his own invention, Dr. Mal undergoes a transformation of his own. Once detached and naive, he becomes a vocal advocate for digital literacy, urging society to use these powerful tools wisely.
The film tracks this dramatic journey, reminding us that when it comes to AI, the conversation is not just technical, it’s human. And we all have a part to play.
Trailer
We have now a proper video trailer! But if you prefer to read, read on :)
(The film will be made with puppets, whose "skin" is a collage of papers that reflect the character's personality and hobbies)
Dr. MAL: I swear, every time I read one paper, it sprouts five more like a hydra.
Dr. MAL (presenting a proposal to the committee): We stand at the threshold of a transformative breakthrough! For the first time, we can build a system that will navigate the overwhelming expanse of scientific literature better than our brightest minds! It will find patterns, connections and insights that would otherwise remain forever hidden, accelerating discovery across disciplines! The question is not IF this will happen, but WHO will lead it! Esteemed committee, this is our chance to lead, to define how this technology shapes the future of research and the trajectory of human knowledge!
Dr. VAL (a bit surprised): Victor! Wow! You scared me a bit... that was terrifyingly compelling!
Dr. MAL (sure of himself) Just suggest they get the chance to shape the future. Works every time.
Dr. GRANT: Dr. Mal! This has the potential to be BIG! but it is your responsibility to make this a big GOOD, and not a big BAD! Don't forget this!
Dr. Mal is watching Pinocchio on TV:
GEPPETTO: Birba d'un figliuolo! Non sei ancora finito di fare e già cominci a mancare di rispetto a tuo padre! male, ragazzo mio, male!
Dr. MAL: Oh GEPPETTO... you just gave PINOCCHIO legs and he used them to kick you and then run away...
GEPPETTO: Me lo merito!... Dovevo pensarci prima! Ormai è tardi!
Dr. MAL (laughing): Next time think BEFORE you build a runaway puppet...
Dr. JORDAN (coughing): What happened here?
Dr. SANJANA (coughing): Looks like Victor's project took a violent turn...
Dr. JORDAN (coughing): Where is he? Is he hurt somewhere?
Dr. VAL (coughing): I know where he is... Come!
PhD student LEE (eager for knowledge): How will you train it, Dr. Mal?
Dr. MAL: Ah! with a brilliantly simple idea! I will give my system text fragments and train it to predict the next word. It sounds simple, but to guess the next word, it has to learn many different kinds of patterns.
Dr. VAL (worried): Have you been using texts from the web to train your system, Victor?
Dr. MAL (sure of himself): Obviously. It’s a goldmine! All free!
Dr. JORDAN: Victor! Big news! Your system came up with a new solution to the bin packing problem. Lots of real-world applications. Big impact.
Dr. MAL: My system is doing maths?
Dr. JORDAN: It basically solves 3D Tetris with many more shapes! How cool is that?
Dr. MAL: I didn't expect that just from processing text it can learn patterns to solve math problems!
Dr. SANJANA: Victor! We trained your system with data on chemical compounds interactions, and voila! dual-target drug discovery!
Dr. JURGEN (over her): Still needs real-world testing, but early results are very promising.
Dr. MAL (angry, talking to the phone from which he is reading an article): My system doesn't just "parrot language"! Okay, sure... I don’t know exactly how it works... But does it really matter? Have you seen the output? It freaking works! We don't need planes to flap their wings! "it’s not connected to the real world” It doesn’t need to be! The real world is overrated.
Dr. MAL (starting calm, and getting excited): Look, the system wasn’t meant to write marriage vows optimized for tiktok, or cheat on college essays. I built it to help scientists cut through the flood of papers, parse data, fight disease. It was supposed to amplify brilliance.
TV PRESENTER: Amplify brilliance, or shortcut effort?
Dr. MAL (frustrated): It’s a tool. Tools reflect their users. A microscope doesn’t care if you cure cancer or invent a better bomb. And yeah... I got swept up, too. The system worked better than I’d dreamed, and I—I let it do my job for me. I gave my student feedback... AI-generated. Didn’t double-check a word. I failed her.
Mr. MURG (at the launch of a new system): Good morning! We're thrilled that millions of you are with us, in person or online! The energy is awesome! Can you feel it? Yeah!!! Today is an exciting day, because we are here to launch our new system: Vill...
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