Roadrunner: A Film About Anthony Bourdain (2021)
This documentary about the beloved chef and TV host is essential viewing for anyone interested in voice AI, but not for the reasons you might think. The film sparked a massive controversy when director Morgan Neville revealed he used an AI model to generate
a few lines of narration in Bourdain’s voice, reading from emails the late chef had written. The backlash was immediate, raising critical ethical questions about consent, legacy, and whether an AI can or should speak for the dead. For fans of ElevenLabs, this film serves as a powerful, real-world case study on the ethical tightrope creators walk when using synthetic voice technology.
Coded Bias (2020)
If you're interested in how AI tools are built, this is a must-watch. The film follows MIT Media Lab researcher Joy Buolamwini, who discovered that many facial recognition systems didn't accurately recognize her face unless she wore a white mask. This personal discovery spirals into a sweeping investigation of how human biases are embedded into the algorithms that increasingly govern our lives, from loan applications to law enforcement. While not strictly about voice, Coded Bias is a fundamental text for understanding the unseen prejudices that can be built into any AI system, including the ones that generate speech.
The Social Dilemma (2020)
You've likely heard of this one, and for good reason. It features interviews with the very people who built the social media platforms that now dominate our lives. The film explores how persuasive technology is designed to be addictive and how algorithms can lead to political polarization and mental health issues. For those intrigued by ElevenLabs, this documentary provides the bigger picture, showing how a powerful tool—like AI voice—fits into a much larger digital ecosystem designed to capture and hold our attention, for better or worse.
AlphaGo (2017)
To understand the sheer power and potential of AI, look no further than AlphaGo. This film chronicles the historic 2016 match between the legendary Go player Lee Sedol and Google DeepMind's AI program, AlphaGo. It's a gripping story not just about technology, but about human intuition versus machine logic. Watching a machine make moves that are described as creative and beautiful by human experts is a profound experience. It showcases the awe-inspiring side of AI, mirroring the wonder many feel when first hearing a flawlessly generated voice, and it explores what happens when AI can master uniquely human domains.
Another Body (2023)
This documentary offers a harrowing and necessary look at the dark side of synthetic media. It follows a college student's search for justice after she discovers her face has been used in deepfake pornography without her consent. The film is a raw, personal investigation into the devastating real-world harm caused by the malicious use of deepfake technology. While ElevenLabs focuses on voice, the underlying principles of using AI to create synthetic media are the same. This film is a stark and urgent reminder of the need for ethical guardrails and legal protections as these tools become more powerful and accessible.
