A new four-hour documentary, Musk, premiered at the Venice Film Festival on September 8, presenting allegations about Elon Musk’s personal life, business practices, and political influence. The film, directed by Oscar-winning filmmaker Alex Gibney, uses an AI-generated avatar trained on Musk’s past interviews to simulate responses to questions about his beliefs and actions. The documentary also features interviews with former associates, including Ashley St. Clair, who shares a child with Musk and discusses their relationship in the film.
Documentary premieres with AI avatar and personal allegations
The documentary Musk premiered at the Venice International Film Festival on September 8, featuring an AI-generated avatar of Elon Musk trained on his past interviews. The film includes interviews with former associates, including Ashley St. Clair, who shares a child with Musk and discusses their relationship. The documentary alleges that Musk has made controversial statements about his personal life, including claims about his desire to father a "legion of children" before a perceived civil war.
AI avatar used to simulate Musk’s responses
The filmmakers employed an AI avatar of Musk, created using his past interviews, to respond to questions posed in the documentary. This approach was intended to highlight what the filmmakers describe as the "reality of what he’s done and unreality of his narrative." The use of AI was cleared with legal counsel before production. Gibney stated that the avatar was a deliberate choice to reflect Musk’s own claims that reality may be a simulation.
Former associates allege controversial personal claims
The documentary includes interviews with former associates of Musk who allege controversial statements about his personal life. Ashley St. Clair, a former conservative influencer who shares a child with Musk, states in the film that Musk told her he wanted to create a "legion of children" before a perceived civil war. St. Clair also mentions that Musk referred to women as "the breeders" in private conversations. These claims are presented alongside Musk’s reported belief that reality is a simulation, a view he allegedly shared with computer scientist Geoffrey Hinton.
Business practices and legal challenges highlighted
The documentary also examines Musk’s business practices, including allegations that he has made false claims about Tesla’s self-driving technology to inflate stock prices. The film cites approximately 60 deaths and numerous lawsuits in the U.S. related to Tesla’s self-driving claims as evidence of these allegations. Additionally, the documentary questions Musk’s long-standing promise to colonize Mars, which has been repeatedly described as "imminent" for over a decade without materialization.
Musk responds to documentary as 'hit piece'
Elon Musk has publicly criticized the documentary, calling it a "hit piece" in August 2024. He questioned whether the nearly four-hour runtime would bore viewers. In response, Gibney stated, "How would you know," indicating Musk had not engaged with the film directly. The documentary is scheduled for a wider theatrical release on October 16.
Documentary explores Musk’s political influence
The film also delves into Musk’s political activities, including his support for former President Donald Trump. Gibney describes Musk’s power as stemming from his ability to speak confidently about the future to convince investors, even when his predictions lack factual or evidentiary support. The documentary frames Musk’s political alignment as a break from his past, suggesting it reflects a broader shift in his public persona.
Former partner describes Musk’s personal conduct
Justine Wilson, Musk’s first wife and mother of six of his children, is quoted in the documentary describing Musk’s view of women as "interchangeable" and referring to them as "the breeders." These remarks are presented alongside other allegations about Musk’s personal conduct, including his reported desire to father numerous children with politically aligned women. The documentary does not provide direct responses from Musk regarding these personal allegations.
Filmmakers consulted legal experts on AI use
Before incorporating the AI avatar, the filmmakers consulted legal experts to ensure compliance with privacy and intellectual property laws. The decision to use the avatar was intended to both reference Musk’s simulation theory and critique his shifting stance on AI technology. Gibney emphasized that the choice was made to convey the "reality of what he’s done and unreality of his narrative."