: The film suggests a hidden connection between spiritual exploration and cybernetic innovation.

The film follows several teams of programmers who gather at a nondescript California hotel to see whose chess program can best the others. The ultimate goal is to create a program capable of defeating a human grandmaster.

: Peter Bishop, a painfully shy young programmer, becomes the central focus as he navigates the high-pressure tournament.

: The programmers frequently discuss the future of AI, debating whether "artificial real intelligence" is different from "real artificial intelligence".

: While the "nerds" focus on code and artificial intelligence, they frequently cross paths with a "Human Potential Movement" group sharing the same hotel, leading to awkward and humorous encounters.