Back to today’s briefing

Story perspectives

Gibney Premieres “Musk” at Venice, Uses AI Avatar

9/8/2026

16 2 Full Breakdown

Summary

Musk Documentary

Alex Gibney premiered his documentary “Musk” at the Venice Film Festival on September 8, 2026.
The 235-minute film traces Musk’s rise from South Africa to Tesla, SpaceX, Starlink, Neuralink and X.
Because Musk declined interview, Gibney used archival footage and an AI-generated avatar of him.
Ashley St. Clair rejected a $40 million NDA before appearing in the documentary.

Summary

Musk Endorses AfD

Elon Musk posted “Well done!” to AfD co-leader Alice Weidel after the party’s Saxony-Anhalt victory.
AfD lead candidate Ulrich Siegmund thanked Musk and urged strong, constructive cooperation and investment.
Director Gibney said Musk backs right-wing parties in Germany, the UK, Brazil and Turkey for ideological and monetary reasons.
Geoffrey Hinton warned Musk cannot be trusted with AI, fearing election rigging using detailed citizen data.

History

Historical Context

In 2022 Cambridge University halted a £400 million partnership with the UAE after Pegasus hacking allegations, reflecting long-standing worries about data abuse. The city’s Silicon Fen cluster, home to AI start-ups and the university’s research endowment of £2.76 billion (2025), has made Cambridge a hub for political-tech scrutiny. This backdrop informs the 2026 Alex Gibney documentary on Elon Musk’s AI-driven support for Germany’s AfD.

1 of 3

Musk Documentary

Alex Gibney premiered his documentary “Musk” at the Venice Film Festival on September 8, 2026.
The 235-minute film traces Musk’s rise from South Africa to Tesla, SpaceX, Starlink, Neuralink and X.
Because Musk declined interview, Gibney used archival footage and an AI-generated avatar of him.
Ashley St. Clair rejected a $40 million NDA before appearing in the documentary.

1 / 3