Netflix acquires Ben Affleck's AI film-tech firm

According to a report by Reuters, Netflix said on Thursday that it has acquired InterPositive, a filmmaking technology company founded by Academy Award winner Ben Affleck that develops artificial intelligence-powered tools for movie production. Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed.

The media industry is increasingly embracing the use of AI for content creation and storytelling, marking a shift from Hollywood’s earlier concerns that the technology could threaten creative jobs and intellectual property rights.

Late last year, Disney revealed plans to allow OpenAI to use characters from its Star Wars, Pixar, and Marvel franchises in the startup’s Sora AI video generator.

Netflix Chief Content Officer, Bela Bajaria, said:

We believe new tools should expand creative freedom, not constrain it or replace the work of writers, directors, actors, and crews.

The acquisition marks the streaming giant’s first since it withdrew from a high-profile bid to acquire Warner Bros. Discovery’s studio and streaming assets after Paramount Skydance’s competing offer was considered stronger.

Affleck, the director and star of the Oscar-winning film Argo, founded InterPositive in 2022 by developing an AI model designed to understand visual logic and editorial consistency while preserving cinematic standards under real-world production challenges such as missing shots or incorrect lighting.

Affleck said:

We also built in restraints to protect creative intent, so the tools are designed for responsible exploration ⁠while keeping creative decisions in the hands of artists.

Affleck will be joining Netflix as a senior advisor.