An AI Startup is Driving 3,400 Miles to Film How Americans Live with AI
AskBobAI's founder will interview workers, parents, and teachers across 20 US cities for a documentary called America vs. AI.
October 1, 2026 - 5:30 pm
A U.S. AI software company founder is taking a camera crew on a road trip to ask ordinary Americans how AI is changing their lives. The documentary, titled America vs. AI, will cover approximately 3,400 miles and more than 20 cities this month, according to AskBobAI's press release.
Andrew DeGood, founder and CEO of AskBobAI, will host the project alongside leadership consultant Liz Short as co-host, and filmmaker Alyx Ancira as producer.
"We hear a lot about what AI might do someday," said DeGood in the release, "but we want to document what it’s doing right now."
*"This isn’t about whether AI is good or bad. It’s about listening to the people living through it."
The journey begins and ends in Chicago, with stops in Louisville, Nashville, Birmingham, Raleigh, Washington, Philadelphia, New York, Boston, and Buffalo. The team will explore jobs, schools, small businesses, family life, and trust in media. Filming runs from September 9 to 26, according to the project's website.
Short clips and road updates will be shared during the trip, with the finished film available on YouTube. People can apply to be interviewed through a short online form, and no AI knowledge is required.
"AI isn’t just a technology story anymore," noted Short, "it’s a people’s story."
The mood the film aims to capture
The crew will encounter a country that utilizes AI but lacks full trust in it. While approximately half of Americans now use AI chatbots, according to Pew Research, 40% believe AI will make society worse. This sentiment is shared by young adults; most under 30 are now more worried than excited about AI, and 73% expect it to lead to fewer jobs.
AskBobAI, which sells AI search and knowledge tools to businesses, has a vested interest in how this debate unfolds. DeGood assures that the film will present perspectives from all sides.
"We want to hear from people on every side of this," he said, "from early adopters to ‘the workers wondering what it means for their jobs.’"