Netflix has finalized the purchase of InterPositive, an artificial intelligence company founded by actor Ben Affleck. According to a federal filing made as part of Netflix’s Form 10-Q report with the Securities and Exchange Commission, the acquisition was completed in March for approximately $587 million cash.
Details of the Acquisition
The company’s confirmation emerged months after a previous Bloomberg report had suggested that Netflix’s March deal could potentially value up to $600 million for Affleck and InterPositive’s investors. This initial report indicated that any remaining payment would be dependent on “certain performance targets.”
Focusing AI Tools on Filmmakers
InterPositive, which Affleck established in 2022 while operating discreetly (in stealth mode), aims to develop advanced AI technology designed to keep the filmmaker at the core of the creative process. The deal incorporated InterPositive’s existing staff of 16 professionals, including engineers, researchers, and creatives.
The tools developed by the startup allow filmmakers to construct an AI model using raw production footage (dailies). This capability helps improve post-production tasks—such as adding visual effects, relighting shots, or mixing audio—by focusing on enhancement rather than purely generating new visuals.
Leadership and Company Vision
Following the purchase, Ben Affleck joined Netflix in the role of senior adviser. During the announcement of the merger, Affleck noted the historical relationship between technology and artistic creation: “From the invention of the moving image to the transition to digital, from motion capture to virtual production, technology has evolved alongside the artists who use it,” he stated. He added that their shared dedication to this legacy made joining a “natural next step.”
Netflix co-CEO Ted Sarandos highlighted the company’s integration of generative AI tools and its work with InterPositive during the second quarter earnings call. Sarandos confirmed that Netflix has utilized some form of generative AI across roughly 300 titles this year.
While showcasing how the docuseries “The American Experiment” used AI to produce sequences at half the cost and twice the speed compared to previous methods, Sarandos emphasized that the company does not intend to replace human artistry with technology. He remarked, “We believe it takes great artists to make something great, and AI is not changing that… Movies are being made by people who make movies. AI provides them with better tools to make them even better.”
