ABOUT
James Barrat is an award-winning documentary filmmaker whose compelling work has captivated audiences worldwide through collaborations with prominent networks including National Geographic, PBS, Discovery Channel, and leading broadcasters across Europe. He is the acclaimed author of Our Final Invention, Facing Suicide, and The Intelligence Explosion. His is groundbreaking explorations of artificial intelligence will continue in his highly anticipated upcoming book, Where’s Daddy? Renowned for his deep expertise, Barrat is an internationally sought-after speaker, engaging audiences with insightful discussions on the extraordinary promise—and peril—of artificial intelligence.
Barrat has extensive experience transforming cutting-edge scientific concepts into bestselling books. His influential work, Our Final Invention, named a "Definitive Tech Book of 2013" by the Huffington Post, helped establish an important genre of nonfiction focused on the critical examination of artificial intelligence—paving the way for notable titles such as Nick Bostrom's Superintelligence and Max Tegmark's Life 3.0. As a frequent keynote speaker and thought leader in AI-risk, Barrat consistently contributes meaningful insights to discussions about AI and its implications. His expertise earned recognition from Time Magazine, which identified him as one of "5 Very Smart People Who Think Artificial Intelligence Could Bring the Apocalypse."
At this stage, you've developed a comprehensive outline for both a film and potentially a book. Post-production, you've not only become an expert in your narrative but have also formed connections with key characters and locations. You've amassed footage and still images, and if you've been prudent, retained the book rights to the film.
This process gave birth to both the film and book versions of "Facing Suicide." Similarly, "Our Final Invention" and "The Intelligence Explosion" emerged through comparable methods, albeit without the film component. Looking ahead, I'm considering merging my two AI books into a single film, a process that mirrors much of the documentary development approach I've described.
My films have won many awards. Time Magazine named me one of 5 Very Smart People Who Think Artificial Intelligence Could Bring the Apocalypse.