Google is taking a novel route to influence public discourse around Big Tech—by funding films. The tech giant has reportedly launched a movie and television production initiative called 100 Zeros, aimed at co-producing or financially supporting select creative projects that align with its vision for the future. This move appears to be a calculated effort to embed its message in mainstream media, at a time when the entertainment industry is grappling with rising costs and evolving market dynamics.
The initiative is being carried out in partnership with Range Media Partners, a talent and production firm known for its work on films such as A Complete Unknown and Longlegs. Through 100 Zeros, the focus will be on narratives that highlight emerging technologies like artificial intelligence and spatial computing—fields in which Google is heavily investing.
Although Google has not officially commented on the initiative, reporting by Business Insider suggests that this is part of a broader strategy to boost cultural relevance for its next-gen products, particularly its AI-powered services. A notable early example is Cuckoo, an indie horror film that received support from the initiative in 2024. Its marketing was reportedly backed through 100 Zeros, signaling Google’s interest in integrating its tech themes into mainstream entertainment.
Interestingly, despite owning YouTube, the world’s largest video platform, Google is not planning to use it as the primary distribution channel for 100 Zeros content. Instead, it aims to collaborate with traditional studios and major streaming services, such as Netflix. This represents a shift from its previous venture, YouTube Originals, which was phased out in 2022 as the company refocused on short-form, creator-driven content.
The timing may also be strategic. Hollywood is still recovering from a difficult year marked by simultaneous writers’ and actors’ strikes, coupled with concerns over potential U.S. tariffs on international content. These disruptions have created an opening for deep-pocketed companies like Google to step in—offering both funding and technological innovation.
The Range Media partnership is already bearing fruit. Two films under the 100 Zeros banner—Sweetwater and LUCID—are set to release later this year. Both explore themes related to artificial intelligence, directly tying into Google’s efforts to promote its own AI ecosystem, including products like Gemini.
Though these films are not overtly branded as tech promotions, the underlying aim seems clear: to boost public familiarity with, and acceptance of, transformative technologies that lie at the heart of Google’s long-term vision. Through cinema, Google appears poised not only to shape consumer interest but also to influence broader public understanding of where Big Tech is headed.
