Netflix Paid $587 Million for Ben Affleck's AI Startup InterPositive Netflix confirmed in a federal filing that it acquired Ben Affleck’s AI startup InterPositive for approximately $587 million in cash. The disclosure came via Netflix’s Form 10-Q report with the Securities and Exchange Commission, which detailed the March 2026 acquisition. The purchase price was slightly below a Bloomberg-reported estimate of up to $600 million, though the report noted that additional payments could be tied to performance targets. Netflix did not comment on the matter when approached for clarification. The acquisition of InterPositive, a company Affleck founded in 2022 and operated in stealth mode, marks Netflix’s effort to integrate AI tools into its filmmaking processes. The deal brought aboard InterPositive’s 16-person team of engineers, researchers, and creatives, while Affleck joined Netflix as a senior adviser. The startup’s technology enables filmmakers to build AI models using production dailies, streamlining post-production tasks such as mixing, relighting, and visual effects. This approach aims to enhance workflows without relying on traditional generative AI methods. Affleck emphasized the partnership’s significance, stating, “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. Our shared commitment to continuing this legacy makes joining together a natural next step, in addition to Netflix’s decades of experience applying and scaling technology responsibly.” Netflix co-CEO Ted Sarandos highlighted the company’s growing use of generative AI during its second-quarter earnings call.#netflix #ted_sarandos #ben_affleck #interpositive #the_american_experiment
Ben Affleck’s AI company is sold for more than $500 million Netflix has acquired Ben Affleck’s AI film-tech startup InterPositive for $587 million, marking a significant investment in generative AI tools for the entertainment industry. The deal, disclosed in a recent Securities and Exchange Commission filing, highlights the streaming giant’s growing reliance on artificial intelligence to streamline production processes while maintaining creative control. InterPositive, founded in 2022, focuses on developing AI-powered tools designed to assist filmmakers in complex tasks such as postproduction and visual effects, with a stated mission to “keep storytelling human.” The acquisition comes as Netflix expands its use of AI across approximately 300 productions, despite facing challenges such as a declining stock price and pressure from Hollywood unions to protect human labor. During a recent earnings call, Netflix co-Chief Executive Ted Sarandos emphasized the company’s early-stage collaboration with InterPositive, noting that generative AI is already influencing hundreds of projects. He highlighted the use of AI in “really complicated shots and sequences,” citing the historical documentary The American Experiment as an example. The docuseries reportedly utilized AI-enhanced footage that was produced twice as quickly and at half the cost of traditional methods. Affleck, who co-founded InterPositive with a team of engineers, initially sought to address concerns about AI’s impact on the film industry. The company’s proprietary AI model was trained to understand visual logic and editorial consistency while preserving cinematic rules under real-world production challenges like missing shots or incorrect lighting.#netflix #screen_actors_guild #ted_sarandos #ben_affleck #interpositive
O’Brien is delivering a standout performance this year, with a monologue that’s more incisive than last year’s. He openly criticized Ted Sarandos for undermining the theatrical experience and dismissed last year’s Oscar winners as minor achievements. His relaxed demeanor suggests he’s fully embracing the role, and it’s surprising how much enjoyment the Oscars are generating. The ceremony kicks off with children chasing him onto the stage, marking the end of an era as he becomes the last human host. His opening joke about opera and ballet sets a playful tone, and the subsequent short film of Conan dressed as “Betty Davies with lupus” from Weapons adds a whimsical touch. The sequence features Conan evading children, racing through an F1 track, playing ping pong, and jumping between historical eras, including Elizabethan England and a futuristic KPop scene where he speaks Norwegian to Stellan Skarsgard. The energy is electric, and it’s hard not to imagine watching this for hours. The fashion front is equally striking, with a parade of bold styles. The fashion desk notes a prevalence of brown tones, feathers, and Chanel, setting the stage for the ceremony. Michael B. Jordan arrives in a sleek black suit with a Nehru collar and waist chain, exuding understated elegance. Paul Mescal makes a late entrance in a cashmere Celine cardigan, borrowing Ethan Hawke’s signature bolo tie. Timothée Chalamet opts for all-white attire, his Givenchy suit blending sci-fi elements with the 1940s setting of Marty Supreme, which previously featured orange as a signature color. His futuristic look hints at a potential role shift. Vintage flair makes an appearance with Miyako Bellizzi, the Marty Supreme costume designer, in archival Dior by John Galliano.#obrien #ted_sarandos #conan #stellan_skarsgard #marty_supreme
