Maria Bakalova, Adam Pally and David Strathairn discuss "O Horizon," in New York theaters Friday, and their skepticism over the AI it depicts.

Maria Bakalova, seen at the 2024 Cannes Film Festival, stars in "O Horizon." File Photo by Rune Hellestad/ UPI UPI David Strathairn, seen at the 2021 premiere of "Nightmare Ally" in New York City, stars in "O Horizon." File Photo by John Angelillo/UPI UPI Adam Pally, seen at the 2017 Weinstein Company and Netflix Golden Globes after party in Beverly Hills, Calif., stars in "O Horizon." File Photo by Christine Chew/UPI UPI Maria Bakalova, seen at the 2024 amfAR Cannes Gala in Cap d'Antibes, France, stars in "O Horizon." File Photo by Rocco Spaziani/UPI UPI Maria Bakalova, seen at the 2022 Critics Choice Awards in Los Angeles, stars in "O Horizon." File Photo by Jim Ruymen/UPI UPI

LOS ANGELES, June 12 (UPI) -- Maria Bakalova and Adam Pally said the type of AI presented in their film O Horizon, in New York theaters Friday, would not convince them it is sentient. Bakalova, 29, plays Abby, a woman grieving her father (David Strathairn) who buys Sam's (Pally) simulation of him.

In a recent Zoom interview with UPI, Bakalova said even if AI could accurately simulate a loved one, she could tell the difference. In fact, the film backs her up as Abby corrects the AI father, thus training it after her purchase.

"I myself correct him, 'That's not the way it should be saying [things],' basically educating him how to be the better version of my pretended person," Bakalova said. "I don't think it's going to be able to get to an unrecognizable point."

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Bakalova added that humans would always have their authentic memories to compare to the simulation. Pally, 44, agrees that interaction between two humans cannot be reproduced no matter how much data the AI scrapes.

"I think that every interaction is specific in its own alchemy because there's two sides of it," Pally said. "Even if it's an amalgamation of different interactions put into a computer gone through really quickly and it spits out the one interaction, it's still not authentic."

Strathairn, 77, said he did not change his performance between flashbacks of his living character and his portrayal of the simulation. Though he agrees with his co-stars, Strathairn also worries that AI will try harder to convince people.

"If we can't tell the difference, I think we're in for some really weird times," Strathairn said. "It is a little anxious making."

Sam sells Abby on the emotional reconnection with her father. Pally believes his character's motivations are not so pure.

"Once you buy the app, I could care less how you use it," Pally said. "I'm proud of the technological advances that I've made and then also am a white rabbit businessman at heart."

The first time Abby speaks to her simulated father, Bakalova lets loose an emotional outpouring. She said she used her own human connections to generate that performance.

"My whole life, I've tried to get in characters in a little bit of a different way and to not come from my own experiences," she said. "With this one, I did the opposite because I feel personally connected to it."

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Bakalova said she lost "one of my closest people on this planet" 12 years ago, and the loss still feels fresh. She also said watching the film gave her unique insight into what her own grief looks like.

"You never will get a mirror and point it at your face so you don't really know how you look," she said. "You might think that you will scream. You might not be able to make a single sound in a situation like this. So it's been an interesting exploration of honesty."

Though Abby knows the difference between the app and her father, Bakalova adds that using a simulation can aid in processing grief "if you do it cautiously, if you do it with a purpose, if you know when and how to stop. Maybe because of that, you need people around you as well so you're not alone in this, so you don't become delusional."

Strathairn believes his character would also welcome the ability to continue being a presence in Abby's life.

"It's great that I can talk back down to my daughter and catch every day what she's doing," Strathairn said. "In a way, I have the opportunity to continue to be her friend, her dad, her pal every day and help her navigate what she's going through until she's able to really hold it herself."

Pally isn't so sure that is a productive coping mechanism.

"It feels like prolonging some kind of inevitable because as soon as the wifi goes out, your dad's going to die every time," Pally said.

O Horizon opens in Los Angeles June 19.