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Netflix paid $587M for Ben Affleck’s AI filmmaking startup
Netflix has disclosed in a regulatory filing that it paid $587 million in cash to acquire InterPositive, an AI filmmaking startup co-founded by actor and director Ben Affleck. The deal, first announced in March, sees the entire InterPositive team join Netflix, with Affleck taking on a senior advisory role. The acquisition underscores Netflix's growing bet on generative AI tools within its production pipeline, at a time when the use of AI in filmmaking remains a contentious issue across Hollywood.
Affleck has said the tools are designed to "protect the power of human creativity" rather than replace it, with InterPositive's technology used in post-production to fix "real-world production challenges" such as missing shots, background replacements or poor lighting. Netflix had not previously disclosed the financial terms, though a Bloomberg report had suggested the deal could be worth up to $600 million. In its latest earnings report, Netflix said around 300 of its titles have already made use of generative AI.
In short
- Netflix paid $587m for Ben Affleck's AI post-production startup InterPositive
- Deal announced in March; Affleck now a senior Netflix advisor
- Netflix says roughly 300 titles have already used generative AI
Steelman: both sides, in good faith
The strongest fair case each way — we don't pick a winner.
The case for
Proponents argue that AI tools in post-production represent a natural evolution in filmmaking technology that addresses genuine practical challenges. Rather than replacing creative professionals, these tools can liberate them from time-consuming technical work—fixing lighting, completing missing shots—allowing directors and crews to focus on artistic vision and storytelling. The efficiency gains also make high-quality production more economically feasible, potentially enabling more diverse voices to access filmmaking resources.
The case against
Critics contend that normalising AI in production pipelines threatens livelihoods for visual effects artists, editors, and technical crew whilst raising unresolved questions about artistic authenticity and who controls filmmaking tools. They argue that the pressure to adopt AI for cost savings privileges speed and corporate efficiency over the deliberate human craftsmanship that has defined cinema, and that concentration of these powerful technologies in streaming companies' hands could fundamentally reshape creative industries in ways that disadvantage working artists.
Explained simply
Netflix has acquired InterPositive, a startup that develops artificial intelligence tools for filmmaking. The company was co-founded by Ben Affleck, the actor and film director known for films including Batman v Superman and Argo.
Netflix's acquisition reflects a broader industry trend of major entertainment companies investing in generative AI for production work. The use of AI in filmmaking has proved contentious in Hollywood, with concerns raised about its impact on creative control and industry jobs.
InterPositive's tools are designed for post-production work, handling tasks such as fixing missing shots, replacing backgrounds or correcting lighting problems. Affleck has maintained that the technology is meant to protect human creativity rather than replace it.
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