Actor Jeff Hiller discussed his role as Larry, a hive-mind character in the Apple TV+ series "Pluribus," in a recent interview with Gold Derby.
The performance highlights the intersection of artificial intelligence and entertainment, reflecting current public perceptions of AI chat technology. Hiller said that the character reminds viewers of ChatGPT.
Hiller earned his second Emmy nomination [2] for the role, specifically in the category of Outstanding Guest Actor in a Drama Series [3]. Despite the prestige of the nomination, the actual screen time for the performance totaled only seven minutes [1].
The production of the role was marked by extreme secrecy. Hiller said that producers kept specific details about the character hidden from him during the filming process. He said there was a lack of transparency regarding the script and the narrative purpose of his character.
"I never read the script; I wasn't given it," Hiller said.
This approach by the producers was designed to maintain the mystery of the hive-mind concept. Hiller said that the producers provided limited information, which forced him to approach the character with a specific level of uncertainty, a choice that aligned with the show's themes of fragmented identity and AI simulation.
The actor's recognition by the Television Academy underscores the industry's growing interest in short-form, high-impact guest roles. By portraying a digital entity that mirrors modern LLMs, Hiller captured a contemporary cultural anxiety regarding the nature of consciousness and machine intelligence.
“"I never read the script; I wasn't given it."”
Hiller's nomination for a brief, seven-minute appearance demonstrates a shift in award-season valuations, where the conceptual resonance of a role—such as the comparison to ChatGPT—can outweigh total screen time. It also reflects a production trend where actors are kept in the dark to elicit authentic reactions, mirroring the unpredictable nature of the AI characters they portray.
