Mumbai: The critically acclaimed film Humans in the Loop, directed by Aranya Sahay, is set to stream worldwide exclusively on Netflix starting October 31. The thought-provoking feature, which portrays an Adivasi woman’s encounter with artificial intelligence and explores the human labor behind AI systems, will be available to audiences in 190 countries from October 31 and in the U.S. from November 10.
Backed by Storiculture’s Impact Fellowship and Sauv Films, with support from the Museum of Imagined Futures, Humans in the Loop follows an Adivasi (indigenous) woman in rural India working at a data-labelling center that trains AI systems. Through her journey, the film sheds light on the unseen emotional and cultural work that sustains the global AI industry.
The film is executive produced by National Award-winning filmmaker Biju Toppo and acclaimed filmmaker-producer Kiran Rao, who played a key role in shaping its theatrical run and global outreach.
Sharing her thoughts on the film’s upcoming Netflix debut, Kiran Rao said, “From the very first time I saw Humans in the Loop, I was moved by its honesty and vision. It speaks to the invisible labour that powers our modern world—with such tenderness and urgency. I’m thrilled that the film will now find a global home on Netflix, reaching audiences everywhere who will see a part of themselves in its story. It’s a rare film, intimate at once, and I couldn’t be prouder to have been a part of its journey.”
Echoing this sentiment, Director Aranya Sahay remarked, “Being on Netflix feels like a powerful next step for Humans in the Loop. The film was always meant to start conversations about the invisible human labor that builds AI, and Netflix gives us the opportunity to take that dialogue to a truly global audience. It is a wonderful feeling to know that a greater number of audiences will be able to view the film and engage in greater conversations.”
A festival favorite and recipient of multiple Best Film awards, Humans in the Loop also won the FIPRESCI India Award, earning widespread acclaim for its nuanced exploration of technology, ethics, and representation. The film continues to gain international recognition for reframing the global dialogue on who truly builds artificial intelligence.
