Ghost in the Machine review – entertaining AI polemic dives into its dark history in race politics and eugenics
TL;DR
Valerie Veatch's enjoyable documentary examines the roots of AI in rightwing ideology, including its dark history in eugenics and race politics, through an array of colourful and often crazed figures. Known for films about internet subcultures, the director builds a largely polemic case, guiding viewers toward AI-sceptical conclusions one persuasive soundbite at a time — timely and germane as a handful of companies' valuations soar.
Nauti's Take
Nauti's take: A sharp documentary like this is a healthy counterweight to the AI hype and sharpens awareness of the technology's ideological backstory — genuinely valuable. The catch: arguing purely through polemic and sacrificing every nuance to a catchy soundbite risks becoming its own echo chamber.
Worth watching for anyone wanting a critical lens on AI, but those after solid facts should fact-check the claims.
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