Film Discussion Club: The Thinking Game

On January 16, 2026, the NS Library hosted a screening and discussion of "The Thinking Game," Google DeepMind's documentary about the pursuit of artificial general intelligence.

The Documentary

"The Thinking Game" follows Demis Hassabis and the DeepMind team on their remarkable journey:

• Creating AlphaGo, which defeated world champions at the ancient game of Go
• Developing AlphaFold, which solved the 50-year-old protein folding problem
• Grappling with the implications of increasingly capable AI systems

The film provides rare insight into one of the most consequential AI research organizations in the world.

The Discussion

After the screening, we explored several thought-provoking themes:

Games as AI Training Grounds

Why did DeepMind choose games as their proving ground? Games provide:

• Clear rules and objectives
• Measurable success criteria
• Bounded complexity that can be gradually increased
• Safe environments for experimentation

The progression from Atari games to Go to StarCraft shows a deliberate path toward increasingly complex challenges.

The AlphaFold Decision

One of the most interesting moments in DeepMind's history was their decision to release AlphaFold's protein structure predictions freely to the scientific community. This sparked discussion:

• Was this the right decision?
• What are the implications for scientific progress?
• How should AI breakthroughs be shared?

Practical vs. Entertainment Value

The film raises questions about the purpose of AI development:

• Games are entertaining but limited in real-world impact
• Protein folding has immediate applications in drug discovery
• How should AI research prioritize between fascinating and useful?

Ethical Parallels

Several participants drew parallels to the Manhattan Project:

• Scientists creating powerful technology with dual-use potential
• The responsibility that comes with capability
• Whether some research should be pursued at all

Optimization vs. Understanding

A key technical discussion emerged around AlphaFold:

• Does it actually understand protein folding, or just predict it very well?
• Is there a meaningful difference?
• What does this tell us about the nature of intelligence?

Why Film Discussions Matter

Documentaries like "The Thinking Game" provide:

• Shared context for complex topics
• Multiple perspectives in one narrative
• Emotional engagement that pure technical content lacks
• Natural starting points for deeper conversation

Watching together creates community understanding that individual viewing cannot.

Ongoing Conversation

The discussion continued in our Discord channel, where participants shared additional resources, papers, and perspectives. Some debates are too rich for a single evening.

Join the Film Club

Our Film Discussion Club meets regularly to explore documentaries and films relevant to technology, innovation, and the future. Whether you're interested in AI, entrepreneurship, or the intersection of technology and society, there's something for you.

Upcoming screenings are announced on our Luma page and Discord. Bring your questions and perspectives - the best discussions come from diverse viewpoints.