Greg Kohs is a ten-time Emmy®-winning filmmaker: whose real-as-dirt storytelling has been brought to bear in all his award-winning documentaries, including "Song Sung Blue" (2008), "The Great Alone" (2015), "AlphaGo" (2017), "COIN" (2022), and latest, “The Thinking Game” (2024) the story of a visionary scientist’s quest to solve AGI.

Our filming approach was rooted in the principles I’ve stuck to since my early days at NFL Films: humanity, emotion, curiosity, and patience. I refer to this observational approach as “captured not contrived.” In the spirit of a Johnny Cash song, our style always remains grounded, soulful, and real-as-dirt.

Our initial visit to the AI lab was undeniably daunting. It was astonishing to witness the brilliant minds that Demis had brought together in this cathedral of knowledge. We felt out of place among the incredibly smart scientists with PhDs from prestigious universities whose gothic spires could easily have been the inspiration for Walt Disney.

Of all the researchers, Demis particularly piqued our curiosity. Despite his remarkable achievements, he appeared incredibly humble and shy in front of the camera. Our best chances to film him involved tagging along during train rides, bumpy cab journeys, or late-night visits with him at his home office.

As we spent more and more time with Demis, we discovered his fascinating, Forrest Gump-like quest for knowledge that spanned over 40 years. We realized his journey was the kind that inspired movies. Although we were initially invited to collect an archive based on the research, we decided that every filmmaking decision would be made with the possibility of a significant AI breakthrough in mind. If such a breakthrough occurred, we would have a captivating third act that showcased Demis' extraordinary scientific journey.

From the outset, our primary challenge was finding a way to present complex scientific ideas and discoveries in a way that a general audience could understand. During filming, we discovered that the language of science is often unspoken. It was not unusual for a room full of scientists to suddenly fall silent for several minutes, each lost in their own thoughts. These moments of quiet contemplation and focused introspection were masterclasses in the art of silence.

As I became attuned to this unspoken scientific language, I trained my lens on the silent human clues that would help create a bridge between the science and our audience: the furrowed brow of frustration, the quizzical look of confusion, the bright eyes of excitement, the pursed lips of skepticism, and the distant gaze of deep disappointment.

Gradually, I felt less intimidated and more at home in this world of science. Although much of the scientific jargon still went over my head, the raw emotions were undeniable.

From the beginning, we were granted the highest level of security clearance at the lab, allowing us to explore any project and team that piqued our curiosity.

Early in our filming, we stumbled upon a project shrouded in secrecy—a small team of scientists operating in a world of their own, using AI techniques in an attempt to solve the protein folding problem: a scientific enigma that had baffled thousands of biologists for decades. We were drawn to the sheer audacity of this ragtag team of researchers tackling such a monumental challenge.

A successful outcome could revolutionize drug discovery, unlock solutions for climate change, and pave the way for life saving medical treatments. Could this be our Act 3 of a potential film?

We began filming at a time when artificial intelligence was a nascent concept, and the idea of Artificial General Intelligence (AGI) was largely unfamiliar to the public. Six years later, as our film debuts, the world is engaged in a lively discourse about AI's present and future impact on civilization.

The Thinking Game aspires to serve as a historical lens, highlighting the groundbreaking work of a pioneering scientist who is instrumental in shaping the integration of this transformative technology into our world. By capturing this pivotal moment, we aim to contribute to the ongoing conversation about AI and its profound impact on our future.