Following the success of our award-winning documentary AlphaGo, Demis Hassabis presented producer, Gary Krieg, and me with a unique proposition: to document groundbreaking artificial intelligence research at his AI lab in London.
This wasn't a conventional project. We'd be filming sensitive research and storing it securely. Someday, our work might be unearthed, providing future generations a glimpse into the development of Artificial General Intelligence (AGI).
The Art of Silence
Accepting this offer posed significant risks to our filmmaking careers. Embarking on a multi-year, secretive project with no planned output or ability to share our work with the public, friends, or family meant venturing into uncharted territory.
While considering this opportunity, Demis asked, “If you could go back in time and document the Manhattan Project, how would you do it?” The question both excited, and scared the hell out of us. Demis clearly knew something extraordinary was unfolding.
As filmmakers we decided to take the risk. Except instead of disappearing into the New Mexican desert, we swiped into his secure AI lab in London for the next 5 years to document history.
Our filming approach was rooted in the principles I’ve stuck to since my early days at NFL Films: humanity, emotion, curiosity, and patience. I refer to this observational approach as “captured not contrived.” In the spirit of a Johnny Cash song, our style always remains grounded, soulful, and real-as-dirt.
Our initial visit to the AI lab was undeniably daunting. It was astonishing to witness the brilliant minds that Demis had brought together in this cathedral of knowledge. We felt out of place among the incredibly smart scientists with PhDs from prestigious universities whose gothic spires could easily have been the inspiration for Walt Disney.
Of all the researchers, Demis particularly piqued our curiosity. Despite his remarkable achievements, he appeared incredibly humble and shy in front of the camera. Our best chances to film him involved tagging along during train rides, bumpy cab journeys, or late-night visits with him at his home office.
As we spent more and more time with Demis, we discovered his fascinating, Forrest Gump-like quest for knowledge that spanned over 40 years. We realized his journey was the kind that inspired movies. Although we were initially invited to collect an archive based on the research, we decided that every filmmaking decision would be made with the possibility of a significant AI breakthrough in mind. If such a breakthrough occurred, we would have a captivating third act that showcased Demis' extraordinary scientific journey.
From the outset, our primary challenge was finding a way to present complex scientific ideas and discoveries in a way that a general audience could understand. During filming, we discovered that the language of science is often unspoken. It was not unusual for a room full of scientists to suddenly fall silent for several minutes, each lost in their own thoughts. These moments of quiet contemplation and focused introspection were masterclasses in the art of silence.
As I became attuned to this unspoken scientific language, I trained my lens on the silent human clues that would help create a bridge between the science and our audience: the furrowed brow of frustration, the quizzical look of confusion, the bright eyes of excitement, the pursed lips of skepticism, and the distant gaze of deep disappointment.
Early in our filming, we stumbled upon a project shrouded in secrecy—a small team of scientists operating in a world of their own, using AI techniques in an attempt to solve the protein folding problem: a scientific enigma that had baffled thousands of biologists for decades. We were drawn to the sheer audacity of this ragtag team of researchers tackling such a monumental challenge.
A successful outcome could revolutionize drug discovery, unlock solutions for climate change, and pave the way for life saving medical treatments. Could this be our Act 3 of a potential film?
We began filming at a time when artificial intelligence was a nascent concept, and the idea of Artificial General Intelligence (AGI) was largely unfamiliar to the public. Six years later, as our film debuts, the world is engaged in a lively discourse about AI's present and future impact on civilization.
The Thinking Game aspires to serve as a historical lens, highlighting the groundbreaking work of a Nobel Prize-winning scientist who is instrumental in shaping the integration of this transformative technology into our world. By capturing this pivotal moment, we aim to contribute to the ongoing conversation about AI and its profound impact on our future.
Greg Kohs
A Reel As Dirt and Cityspeak Films production in association with Across the Pond / Featuring Demis Hassabis / Music by Dan Deacon / Edited by Steven Sander / Producers Greg Kohs and Tara Struthers / Archival Producer Aida Yohannes / Executive Producers Jonathan Fildes and Tom Dore / Produced by Gary Krieg / Directed by Greg Kohs