A new play, "Doomers," premiered in a New York City art gallery turned theater, tackling the complex and timely topic of AI safety and ethics through a fictionalized account of OpenAI's leadership crisis. The play, written by Matthew Gasda, is loosely based on the events surrounding Sam Altman's ousting as CEO of OpenAI in November 2023.

Gasda's play takes creative liberties with the real-life events, using the setting as a microcosm to explore the greater philosophical questions of AI safety and alignment. The playwright told TechCrunch that his goal wasn't to create a documentary, but rather to use the setting as a catalyst for a deeper examination of the implications of rapid technological innovation.

The play, which features a cast of 10 characters, including fictionalized versions of OpenAI's CEO Sam Altman, former chief technologist Mira Murati, and co-founder and president Greg Brockman, among others, delves into the central tension of the AI debate: the existential threat of AI versus its existential promise. The characters debate the merits of speeding up AI development, slowing it down for safety and alignment, or shutting it down altogether to protect humanity.

Gasda's play is notable for its meticulous research and attention to detail, with the playwright having written 35 drafts before arriving at the final version. The play's characters are nuanced and multidimensional, with Gasda aiming to extract a sense of fidelity and realism to make the play challenging and relatable to those familiar with the AI industry.

The play's central character, Seth, based on Sam Altman, is a complex and egotistical figure who chooses to prioritize winning over morality. His arguments for speeding up AI development and pursuing excellence are countered by the safety ethicist character, Alina, who raises concerns about the risks of unchecked AI development.

Throughout the play, Gasda incorporates dry humor and nods to Silicon Valley culture, referencing everything from polycules and ketamine to Waymo robotaxis and the Cali-sober trend. The result is a thought-provoking and engaging exploration of the AI debate, one that raises important questions about the implications of creating and pursuing advanced AI.

The play's premiere comes at a time when the AI landscape is rapidly shifting. OpenAI is reportedly raising a $40 billion round that would value it at $300 billion, while President Donald Trump promises to protect AI from regulation as a new arms race against China heats up. The question of whether this rapid innovation is a good thing remains unanswered, leaving the audience to ponder the implications of creating and pursuing advanced AI.

In the end, "Doomers" is a powerful exploration of the AI debate, one that challenges its audience to consider the consequences of playing God with advanced technology. As Alina, the ethicist in the play, says, "It's ugly to build God... Because we're so ugly, and it's based on us."