Artificial intelligence is a hot topic at this year's Sundance Film Festival.
The Yarrow is one of the many Park City venues for the 2026 Sundance Film Festival. One of the premiering documentaries is "Ghost in the Machine."
"Ghost in the Machine" is director Valerie Veatch's third film to premiere at the Sundance Film Festival.
"I'm so thankful for the opportunity that Sundance gives independent storytellers — independent voices — to showcase their work and to share our stories," Veatch said.
Veatch’s latest story is an investigative look at AI and its role in global and political influence.
"Valerie took the time to find the people that have the deeper expertise to ask the harder questions," said Alix Dunn, a cast member in "Ghost in the Machine."
Veatch brought a group of these AI experts with her to the Sundance premiere. She used their modern perspectives to enlighten her research on the historic presence of AI.
"I really appreciate the way Valerie wove together modern voices and really interesting historical footage," said Emily M. Bender, a cast member in "Ghost in the Machine."
Everyone in Veatch's party donned small white pins saying "Not AI," making sure that their audience knew their perspective on artificial intelligence.
"It is so deeply relevant to our contemporary moment, the ways in which it's inflicted through acceleration is politics. Even techno fascism," said Ezekiel Dixon Roman, another cast member.
Each documentary participant came to Sundance with warnings about everyday AI use.
"It's just important politically to resist the deployment of AI, because these things are creating automated propaganda at scale for a fascist regime," said cast member Adam Becker.
After agreeing with these warnings, Veatch shared an AI rule she learned while working on "Ghost in the Machine."
"The most radical thing that you can do in the age of AI is ask the very simple question: Does this need AI? If it doesn't, then you don't need it," Veatch said.
"Ghost in the Machine" will have many screenings throughout the duration of the Sundance Film Festival. The 2026 Sundance Film Festival will be the last festival hosted by Utah.
No AI was used in the making of this story.
