Netflix has quietly expanded its push into artificial intelligence with the acquisition of InterPositive, an AI startup co-founded by actor and filmmaker Ben Affleck. The company develops tools designed to assist filmmakers during the post-production process, helping editors fix continuity issues, improve scenes, and streamline editing workflows.
According to a report from Bloomberg, the deal could be worth as much as $600 million, which would place it among the largest acquisitions in Netflix’s history. For comparison, the streaming giant previously paid around $700 million to acquire the Roald Dahl Story Company, its biggest purchase to date.
Netflix confirmed the acquisition last week but has not disclosed the exact financial terms. Sources familiar with the agreement told Bloomberg that the upfront cash portion may be smaller, with InterPositive’s owners eligible for additional payments if the company meets certain performance milestones after the deal closes.
InterPositive focuses on developing AI-powered software aimed at improving efficiency in post-production. The tools help filmmakers correct visual continuity errors, enhance scenes, and manage editing tasks more quickly. Importantly, the company says its technology does not generate entirely new content or use footage without the proper permissions.
The move aligns with Netflix’s broader strategy to incorporate artificial intelligence into film and television production. The company has already experimented with generative AI in some of its projects, including using AI tools to create a building collapse scene in the Argentine sci-fi series The Eternaut.
Competition among major studios is also heating up in the AI space. Amazon has reportedly been building internal AI teams dedicated to film and TV production, while Disney recently entered a partnership with OpenAI to explore how artificial intelligence could support future entertainment projects.
However, the growing role of AI in Hollywood remains controversial. Many workers across the film and television industry have raised concerns about potential job losses, as well as questions about whether creators are properly compensated when their work is used as training data for AI systems.
For Netflix, the InterPositive acquisition signals that the company sees AI as an increasingly important part of the future of filmmaking—even as debates about its impact on the creative industry continue.