Netflix has acquired InterPositive, the artificial intelligence startup founded by Ben Affleck, for $587 million. The deal aims to integrate AI tools into film production to reduce costs and time.
Netflix has completed the purchase of InterPositive, an artificial intelligence startup founded by actor and filmmaker Ben Affleck in 2022, for a total of $587 million in cash. The transaction, recorded in the company's Form 10-Q report for the first quarter of 2025, was finalised in March and had not been publicly disclosed until now.
A bet on creative AI
The acquisition of InterPositive represents a strategic move by Netflix to place creators at the centre of technological innovation. According to company sources, the startup's technology is designed to optimise film post-production, allowing filmmakers to focus on performances and storytelling while AI handles repetitive tasks such as generating background artists or visual effects.
Ben Affleck explained in a statement that InterPositive “is not about generating something from nothing, but rather building a specific model for the film being made.” The company applied for a patent in 2024 that, according to documents, could achieve a 20% reduction in production timelines and a 50% savings in visual effects costs.
The impact on the film industry
The deal comes at a time when the entertainment industry is debating the role of artificial intelligence in artistic creation. Netflix, which has heavily invested in original content, aims with this purchase to reduce costs without sacrificing quality. According to industry analysts, the integration of tools like those from InterPositive could transform the way series and films are produced, especially in a context of increasing competition with platforms like Disney+ or Amazon Prime.
For filmmakers, the technology promises to streamline processes that traditionally consume a lot of time and resources. “For artists to apply these tools towards telling the stories we dedicate our lives to, they need to be specifically designed to represent and protect all the qualities that make a great story,” Affleck stated in the same note.
What it means for the viewer
For the public, this acquisition could translate into more releases and greater content variety on Netflix, as cost reductions would allow the platform to finance a larger number of projects. Additionally, shorter production timelines would reduce the time between the announcement of a series and its arrival on screen.
However, it also generates uncertainty among technical film professionals, such as visual effects artists, who may see their jobs threatened. Netflix has assured that the technology is intended to complement human work, not to replace it, although the industry will be watching for upcoming developments.
It is expected that in the coming months, Netflix will gradually integrate InterPositive's tools into its productions, starting with pilot projects. The company has not yet revealed which titles will benefit from this technology, but all signs point to the first applications being seen in animated series and major science fiction productions.
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