Netflix has taken its first step toward directly integrating AI technologies into the production process. At an event, the company’s CEO, Ted Sarandos, confirmed the use of a scene generated by generative AI in the Argentinian science fiction series The Eternaut. This development provides a concrete example of the future role of AI in digital content production.

Netflix Uses AI for the First Time in a Series

According to Sarandos, a scene depicting the collapse of a building in Buenos Aires in The Eternaut was created by AI. This scene, which required a high budget using traditional methods, would not have been possible due to limited production resources.

However, thanks to the use of generative AI, this scene was incorporated into the series. Sarandos emphasized that this experience demonstrates the effectiveness of AI in production processes.

The use of generative AI remains a controversial topic in the film and television industry. There are significant objections to this technology, particularly among actors, directors, and visual effects artists. Despite this, Netflix is accelerating its efforts in this area due to the potential of AI to reduce production costs and increase production flexibility. According to Sarandos, there’s a bright future for AI to be used not only in stage production but also in script writing and pre-production.

The Eternaut has been announced as Netflix’s first AI-powered series. This development clearly indicates that we are on the verge of a new era in production technologies. The industry-wide response to Netflix’s first step in this area, and the timing of other producers’ adoption of similar technologies, will be closely watched.