Ghost in the Machine review – entertaining AI polemic dives into its dark history in race politics and eugenics

A new documentary examines the controversial history of artificial intelligence, while historical accounts recall the violent suppression of pro-democracy protests in China decades ago.

Director Valerie Veatch's film 'Ghost in the Machine' explores AI's dark history in eugenics and questions its utility today^[1]. The film aims to guide viewers toward AI-sceptical conclusions and covers figures from Victorian eugenicist Francis Galton to Elon Musk^[1]. Its interviewees include philosophers, linguists, and Silicon Valley historians^[1]. Veatch previously directed documentaries about online gaming addiction and internet communities^[1]. Separately, a historical account details that a 10km line of protestors snaked through Beijing one month before the Tiananmen Square massacre^[2]. China had been opening up to global trade for over a decade, leading to hopes for democratic rights^[2]. On 4 May 1989, large numbers of people believed the fight for democracy could be won^[2]. A month later, tanks and soldiers descended on the streets, sending a bloody message against protest^[2].