Netflix Utilizes AI in Production of *The Eternaut* to Boost Efficiency
Netflix confirms its use of AI for the first time in the sci-fi series *The Eternaut*, aiming to enhance production efficiency.
Key Points
- • Netflix is using AI to create 'better and cheaper' films and TV shows.
- • *The Eternaut* is the first Netflix series to utilize AI in visual effects.
- • AI completed a building collapse scene ten times faster than traditional methods.
- • The use of AI has sparked mixed reactions among industry leaders.
Netflix has officially announced its integration of artificial intelligence (AI) in film and TV productions, aiming to create content that is both 'better and cheaper.' This confirmation came during the company’s second-quarter results presentation on July 17, 2023, by co-CEO Ted Sarandos. The Argentinian sci-fi series *The Eternaut* marks the inaugural use of AI on the platform, particularly for visual effects, including a spectacular scene of a building collapsing in Buenos Aires.
Sarandos noted that AI was capable of completing the sequence ten times faster than traditional methods, underscoring its potential to enhance production efficiency while working within smaller budgets. He commented, "That sequence actually is the very first AI final footage to appear on screen in a Netflix original series or film," adding that the creators were "thrilled" with the results.
Despite the advantages, the use of AI in filmmaking has sparked a complex debate within the industry. While several industry leaders have expressed support for AI's integration, including prominent figures like James Cameron, others have raised concerns regarding its implications for jobs, particularly following the 2023 SAG-AFTRA strike, where protections against AI were a key issue. Sarandos assured that AI is intended to augment creativity rather than replace human roles in the industry, aiming to allow visual effects teams to enhance their work through tools that support pre-visualization and shot planning.