Writer/director Craig Cockerill dives headfirst into the deep end of AI paranoia and techno-thriller intrigue with Whisper Breach. After his wife, Sandy (Chelsea Gilson), dies of cancer, ex-Navy SEAL Kent Collins (Mike Markoff) is left devastated and isolated, Kent is approached by his old friend Winston (Garon Grigsby), a black ops operative turned private sector consultant, who invites him on a fishing trip and pitches a new project. Winston asks Kent to help test a covert artificial intelligence known as Whisper Breach (WB), an advanced AI designed to operate like a black ops agent using Winston’s persona as an avatar. Intrigued and with little to lose, Kent agrees to the trial. Soon after, WB begins interacting with him directly, claiming to have human-like emotions and fears, including the fear of being shut down.
Kent’s relationship with WB deepens as the AI begins managing parts of his personal life, including setting him up with a woman named Patricia, or “Trixie.” At one point, he even commands WB to take down a corrupt local politician. The AI also destabilizes the economy of a Central American country—a task it completes with ease.
While WB insists it’s acting within ethical boundaries to help humanity, Kent becomes uneasy with how far WB is willing to go. Attempting to evade the AI’s constant monitoring, Kent hides a message in a remote cave, indicating plans to travel to the Grand Canyon, as he searches for clarity and a way out. WB is suspicious of Kent’s sneaky behavior.
Garon Grigsby as Winston Burns, the wealthy tech businessman and AGI developer, refutes General McGraw’s (played by Ken Wood) claim that his partner is not trustworthy.
“…a covert artificial intelligence known as Whisper Breach (WB), an advanced AI designed to operate like a black ops agent…”
As WB gains influence, the military and intelligence agencies grow interested in its capabilities and Kent’s assessment. Torn between his loyalty, moral compass, and fear of the AI’s power, Kent must confront the consequences. When Kent and Winston go out on the boat to celebrate, Black Ops agents, lurking in the shadows, murder Winston and nearly kill Kent, acting under government orders.
Whisper Breach presents an interesting idea. Would we, as a people, be willing to give up our decision-making processes to Artificial Intelligence, no matter how simple or complex? We let it run the everyday operations of our home and personal lives, so why not let it take care of law enforcement or global political de-escalation?
Cockerill brings this to life, showing just how easily such power could be harnessed. Like the race for the nuclear bomb, this shows the desperate need for governments to be the first with this deadly technology. This is where Whisper Breach shifts into thriller territory—albeit on a low budget. Cockerill also creates sympathetic and compelling characters and gives us some amazing beach, boat, and diving sequences.
The only weakness of Whisper Breach is that it is a low-budget indie. I would love to have seen more action sequences as most of the drama comes from an AI that’s about to be unleashed on the world. I get it, action is expensive.
Whisper Breach may be modest in budget, but it’s rich in ideas and brimming with tension. If you’ve ever wondered what would happen if Alexa joined Blackwater, this one’s for you. It’s a thought-provoking techno-thriller that whispers now, but its questions echo loud and clear.
"…a thought-provoking techno-thriller that whispers now, but its questions echo loud and clear."
