Netflix brings Ben Affleck's AI film tech in-house

The streaming service Netflix is relying on technology from Hollywood rather than Silicon Valley for new AI tools for film production. With the acquisition of the AI startup InterPositive, founded by Ben Affleck and based in Los Angeles, the company is investing in its own AI infrastructure for film productions.

The 16-strong team of engineers, researchers, and creatives will move entirely to Netflix, while Affleck himself is to support the streaming service as a senior advisor in the future, Variety reports. Netflix will make the AI technology available to its partners, but commercial distribution is not currently planned. The terms of the acquisition were not disclosed.

AI tools for editing, lighting, and special effects

InterPositive develops AI tools that, according to previous descriptions, are primarily intended for post-production. Ben Affleck emphasizes that the tools do not generate films independently, but are intended to support filmmakers in typical work steps.

To this end, AI models are first trained on recordings of real shoots in order to later supplement missing shots and special effects, enhance backgrounds, or retroactively alter lighting and image sections. According to Affleck, the systems are designed to understand cinematic rules and workflows and to leave creative decisions with humans.

In the announcement and a PR video, Netflix executives Elizabeth Stone and Bela Bajaria emphasize that the goal is to support creatives, not replace them. Ideas, craftsmanship, and human judgment should continue to be at the center of good storytelling. However, it remains unmentioned that such tools could reduce the workload in post-production and thus have long-term effects on certain professional groups.

Streaming services and Hollywood discover AI

The acquisition of InterPositive is part of a broader industry shift. Major studios and streaming services have begun to enter into partnerships with AI providers and actively integrate the technology into their production workflows, rather than just observing its development.

Last year, Amazon founded an AI studio that develops tools for film and series production. Initial results from a collaboration with selected industry partners are expected in May. The goal of the initiative is to reduce production costs. AI-generated video recaps, which Prime Video is currently testing for series, are also aimed in a similar direction.

Disney, in turn, announced a partnership with OpenAI at the end of 2025, which allows users to create clips with characters from franchises such as Marvel or Star Wars using the video generator Sora. Content based on real actors or their voices is excluded. Furthermore, Disney is to receive privileged access to OpenAI's AI technology for developing new content for platforms such as Disney+.

(mki)