PeopleofSuperintelligence

Public voice

James Barrat

Also known as James Rodman Barrat

James Barrat is a documentary filmmaker and author whose books examine advanced AI. He graduated from Davidson College with a B.A. in philosophy in 1983 and wrote, produced, and directed National Geographic's The Gospel of Judas in 2006. PBS NOVA's Extreme Cave Diving, which he produced and directed in 2010, followed scientists on a 21-day expedition into the Bahamas' blue holes; his 2013 book Our Final Invention examined the risks of advanced AI. He appeared in the 2018 documentary Do You Trust This Computer? and published The Intelligence Explosion in September 2025, a book that drew on interviews with AI pioneers to consider generative AI's possible benefits and catastrophic consequences. As of October 2026, he is a documentary filmmaker and author; in May 2026, he returned to WXXI's Connections to discuss his next book and how long the human era can persist.

Links
Website

Timeline

  1. 1983

    A Davidson College degree

    He graduates from Davidson College in 1983 with a B.A. in philosophy.

  2. 2006

    The Gospel of Judas

    In 2006, he directs National Geographic's The Gospel of Judas, a documentary that follows a team seeking to establish the ancient text's authenticity.

  3. 2010

    Extreme Cave Diving

    In 2010, he produces and directs PBS NOVA's Extreme Cave Diving, which follows scientists on a 21-day expedition into the Bahamas' blue holes.

  4. 2013

    Our Final Invention

    In 2013, his book Our Final Invention profiles tech visionaries, industry watchdogs, and AI systems as it examines the perils of advanced AI.

  5. 2018

    Do You Trust This Computer?

    In 2018, he appears in Do You Trust This Computer?, a documentary about self-learning computers changing daily life.

  6. September 2025

    The Intelligence Explosion

    In September 2025, he publishes The Intelligence Explosion, which draws on interviews with AI pioneers to examine generative AI's possible benefits and catastrophic consequences.

  7. As of October 2026

    Documentary filmmaker and author

    As of October 2026, he is a documentary filmmaker and author. In May 2026, he returns to WXXI's Connections to discuss his next book and how long the human era can persist.

  1. Google had the most people shaping AI every year from 2014 to 2025Our estimates of which organizations employed the most people shaping AI each year from 1955 to 2025, tracing the shift from university labs to companies.
  2. The United States employs an estimated 48% of people shaping AIWe estimate where the people shaping AI work today, how universities, companies and research institutes split across countries, and how country shares have changed since the 1960s.
  3. 43% of living people shaping AI work outside their country of birthWe estimate that 43% of living people shaping AI work outside their country of birth (520 of 1,198 people with known birth and employment countries).
  4. More people shaping AI studied at Massachusetts Institute of Technology than at any other institutionWe estimate where the people shaping AI studied and where their careers led. Massachusetts Institute of Technology leads with 467 former students, including 291 recorded doctorates.

Sources and credits

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  1. James Barrat - Wikipedia en.wikipedia.org. Checked 21 October 2026.
  2. Bible Documentaries on DVD - Bible - Research Guides at University of Toronto guides.library.utoronto.ca. Checked 21 October 2026.
  3. NOVA | Extreme Cave Diving | The Producer's Story: Risking It All for Science | PBS pbs.org. Checked 21 October 2026.
  4. Our Final Invention: Artificial Intelligence and the End of the Human Era - James Barrat - Google Buku books.google.com. Checked 21 October 2026.
  5. Do You Trust This Computer? thefilmcollaborative.org. Checked 21 October 2026.
  6. The Intelligence Explosion: When AI Beats Humans at Everything - James Barrat - Google Buku books.google.com. Checked 21 October 2026.
  7. James Barrat | Author Filmmaker Speaker jamesbarrat.com. Checked 21 October 2026.
  8. The journalist who saw the AI threat coming | WXXI News wxxinews.org. Checked 21 October 2026.