Netflix recently paid $587 million in cash when it purchased Ben Affleck's AI startup InterPositive. The cash layout is a monumental pivot in how Hollywood integrates artificial intelligence.
"InterPositive's tools allow filmmakers to build an AI model using production dailies to help enhance post-production work such as mixing, relighting shots and adding visual effects, forgoing typical visual generative efforts," a report by Variety says.
This startup trains models exclusively on a project's own production dailies. Elizabeth Stone, Netflix chief technology and product officer, told TheWrap that these tools fit into real workflows and respect artistic intent. She added that anchoring the technology in the director's specific story allows for consistency that generic models fail to deliver.
Netflix co-CEO Ted Sarandos revealed that generative AI workflows have already impacted roughly 300 of their recent movies. Sarandos noted that the technology helps film complicated crowd or battle scenes that productions otherwise could not afford. The resulting cost savings will be reinvested into making even more content.
Industry workers remain deeply divided on the implications. Commentators on social media platforms like Reddit describe the acquisition as a practical necessity. One visual effects artist noted that editors are severely overworked, so having an advanced algorithm automate tedious tasks like continuity checking is a massive win.
But others believe laziness will be on the rise.
"This tech sounds revolutionary if you don't account for laziness it will cause in finishing filming product and that's just slopification at the end of the day," a netizen opined.
