Ted Sarandos revealed during Netflix’s latest earnings call that the streaming service now incorporates artificial intelligence into approximately 300 productions. This usage is concentrated primarily within post-production workflows, accelerating the pipeline from concept development through final delivery. Specific applications include expanding crowd scenes and historical battle sequences that would previously have been removed due to budget or time constraints. The documentary series “The American Experiment” features 17 minutes of AI-assisted footage, which was produced twice as fast at half the cost. Sarandos indicated that these savings likely fund further content creation rather than reducing the company’s $20 billion budget. He maintained that great artists remain essential for making great work, noting that AI simply provides better tools for creatives to realise their visions. Beyond its Interpositive tool, Netflix also employs Eyeline and operates its own animation lab.
This rollout demonstrates the rapid spread of AI through the entertainment industry, even as creative pushback continues. ByteDance’s video model Seedance has attracted official criticism, yet Simpsons producer Joel Kuwahara observes that many studios quietly utilise it behind the scenes. The industry’s attitude follows a “don’t ask, don’t tell” approach regarding these technologies.
* AI speeds up previsualisation and delivery stages
* Cost savings are reinvested into new content
* Studios adopt a non-disciplinary stance on usage
