CNN Original Series and Jigsaw Productions Unveil New Docuseries "Mind vs/+ Machine: The Human Story of A.I." from Steve James & Alex Gibney

NEW YORK - (May 13, 2026) - CNN Originals and Jigsaw Productions announced today a new CNN Original Series, Mind vs/+ Machine: The Human Story of A.I., directed by Academy Award(R) nominee Steve James (CNN Films Life Itself) and executive produced by Academy Award(R) winner Alex Gibney (CNN Films Steve Jobs: The Man in the Machine). Premiering next year as part of CNN Originals' 2027 slate, the multi-part documentary series will explore the dramatic rise of artificial intelligence through the perspectives of the pioneering scientists, thinkers and activists shaping its future.

"I can't think of a more important issue to address in society today than AI," said James. "I'm truly thankful to CNN for their commitment to the deep and nuanced exploration we are taking in this series."

"I'm thrilled to be a part of this essential film which will take a critical look at where we're going with AI - and what it means for all of us - by examining how we got here," said Gibney. "It's a delight to be working again with my pal, the great Steve James, and with the team behind CNN Films, my partner on Steve Jobs: The Man in the Machine."

Mind vs/+ Machine: The Human Story of A.I. traces the untold origin story of artificial intelligence, from its earliest breakthroughs to the present-day race to control one of the most powerful technologies in human history. With unprecedented access to key innovators and institutions, the series weaves together the hidden history of A.I. with the global competition among tech companies, governments and activists now shaping its future.

"At a moment when artificial intelligence is rapidly transforming every aspect of our lives, there are few storytellers better equipped to take it on than Steve James and Alex Gibney," said Amy Entelis, executive vice president of talent, CNN Original and creative development. "At CNN Originals, this is exactly the kind of storytelling we strive to champion, and together they bring a rare combination of emotional depth, journalistic rigor and cinematic storytelling that will help audiences understand not just the technology, but the people and choices behind it."

At the heart of the series is a defining tension among the very people who helped create this technology. With wide-ranging access to pioneering figures including Geoffrey Hinton, often called the "godfather of A.I.," alongside other iconic scientists such as Yann LeCun, Yoshua Bengio and Fei-Fei Li, the series captures a moment of profound divide between those warning of existential risk and those who see the dawn of a transformative new era. By bringing these competing perspectives into focus, Mind vs/+ Machine offers a rare window into how the architects of A.I. are grappling with the consequences of their own inventions.

The series also examines how A.I. is impacting society presently by following activist and scientist Deborah Raji, as well as the pushback by communities against data centers. As these forces collide, James applies his singular, character-driven approach to illuminate the stories behind the machines and examine the ambitions, conflicts and moral dilemmas driving this rapidly evolving field. Mind vs/+ Machine is the definitive series on artificial intelligence, revealing what is at stake at a critical inflection point in determining who controls this technology and what kind of future it will create.

Mind vs/+ Machine is directed by Steve James. The series is Produced by Alyssa Fedele and Zachary Fink. Executive Producers are Cade Metz, Alex Gibney, Courtney Sexton, Richard Perello for Jigsaw Productions; Jessica Grimshaw, Nick Shumaker, and David Levine for Anonymous Content; Joey Marra, Zhang Xin, and Jonathan King for Closer Media; Malinda Wink for Minderoo Pictures; Jennifer Pelling for Bluebird Trust; and Amy Entelis, Lyle Gamm and Katie Hinman for CNN Original Series.

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About CNN Originals

The CNN Originals group develops, produces and acquires original, long-form unscripted programming for CNN Worldwide. Amy Entelis, executive vice president of talent, CNN Originals and creative development, oversees the award-winning CNN Originals portfolio that includes the following premium content brands: CNN Original Series, CNN Films, CNN FlashDocs, and CNN Studios, an internal production studio which creates long-form programming for CNN's global platforms. Since 2012, the team has overseen and executive produced more than 50 multi-part documentary series and 70 feature-length documentary films, earning more than 120 awards and 450 nominations for the cable network, including CNN Films' first Academy Award(R) for Navalny. Acclaimed titles include the Peabody Award winning and 13-time Emmy(R) Award-winning Anthony Bourdain Parts Unknown; five time Emmy(R) nominee, Apollo 11, directed by Todd Douglas Miller; Eva Longoria: Searching for Spain and Emmy(R) nominated Eva Longoria: Searching for Mexico; the Emmy(R) Award-nominated "Decades Series": The Sixties, The Seventies, The Eighties, The Nineties, The 2000s, and The 2010s, executive produced by Tom Hanks and Gary Goetzman; I'm Chevy Chase and You're Not directed by Emmy(R) winner Marina Zenovich; The Last Movie Stars, directed by Ethan Hawke about the lives and careers of actors and humanitarians Joanne Woodward and Paul Newman; Grammy(R) Award nominee Little Richard: I Am Everything, directed by Lisa Cortés; the Oscar(R), BAFTA, PGA, and duPont-Columbia Award-winning, Navalny directed by Daniel Roher; The Many Lives of Martha Stewart; This is Life with Lisa Ling; Primetime Emmy(R) and duPont-Columbia Award-winning, RBG, directed by Betsy West and Julie Cohen; See It Loud: The History of Black Television, executive produced by LeBron James and Maverick Carter; Space Shuttle Columbia: The Final Flight in partnership with the BBC; the Producers Guild Award and three-time Emmy(R) Award-winning Stanley Tucci: Searching for Italy; BAFTA nominee and Directors Guild Award winner, Three Identical Strangers, directed by Tim Wardle; and the five-time Emmy(R) Award-winning United Shades of America with W. Kamau Bell; and the five-time Emmy(R) Award-winning The Whole Story with Anderson Cooper. CNN Originals can be seen on CNN, to stream via a CNN All Access subscription, on the CNN Original Hub on HBO Max and discovery+, on the CNN Originals FAST channel, and with a pay TV subscription via CNN.com, CNN apps and cable operator platforms.

About Jigsaw Productions

Jigsaw Productions is helmed by Academy Award(R)-winning filmmaker Alex Gibney, considered one of the most prolific and provocative documentary filmmakers of our time. Jigsaw has produced a long list of high-profile documentary films, including the Emmy-winning Going Clear: Scientology and the Prison of Belief, the Oscar-winning Taxi to the Dark Side, the Oscar-nominated Enron: The Smartest Guys in the Room, as well as Zero Days, The Inventor: Out for Blood in Silicon Valley, The Crime of the Century, Totally Under Control, The Forever Prisoner, The Bibi Files, and ORWELL: 2+2=5. Jigsaw's latest film, Knife: The Attempted Murder of Salman Rushdie, premiered at the 2026 Sundance Film Festival. Jigsaw's slate of highly visible TV series includes: on Netflix, Dirty Money, Salt, Fat, Acid, Heat; and top-rated How to Change Your Mind, based on Michael Pollan's book of the same name; In Restless Dreams: The Music of Paul Simon on MGM+, Wise Guys: David Chase & The Sopranos on HBO Max; The Furry Detectives: Unmasking a Monster on Sundance TV; and Octopus! on Amazon.