Editorial illustration for Netflix Acquires Ben Affleck's AI Startup, Adds Actor as Senior Adviser
Netflix Buys Ben Affleck's AI Startup for Content Innovation
Netflix Acquires Ben Affleck's AI Startup, Adds Actor as Senior Adviser
Netflix cut a deal today, acquiring InterPositive, the AI startup Ben Affleck founded in 2022. The pact brings all sixteen of the firm’s engineers and researchers to the streamer. Affleck himself is coming aboard as a senior adviser, telling The Verge he launched the company after watching early, clunky AI tools emerge—and feeling a direct, personal duty to his industry.
Netflix is buying Ben Affleck's AI startup Affleck is also joining the streamer as a senior adviser. Affleck is also joining the streamer as a senior adviser. Today, Netflix announced that it has acquired InterPositive, Ben Affleck's AI company that specializes in tools for film and television production.
The deal will see all 16 of InterPositive's current team of engineers and researchers move over to Netflix. Affleck is also set to join the streamer as a senior advisor. In a statement about the acquisition and his reasons for founding InterPositive in 2022, Affleck said he was inspired to get into the tech space after "observing the early rise of AI in production" and finding many of the tools lacking.
Affleck felt that he "had a responsibility to [his] peers and our industry, to protect the power of human creativity and the people behind it." And he thinks that Netflix's history of "applying and scaling technology responsibly" makes them the ideal partner to take InterPositive to the next level.
So Netflix’s formidable production machine is now formally behind Affleck’s mission. The placement is stark. Here is a major Hollywood star, planted right at the nexus of the very technology that has sparked wrenching labor fights and deep dread across the creative fields he swore to protect.
Common Questions Answered
What specific AI tools does InterPositive develop for film and television production?
InterPositive specializes in proprietary AI tools designed to enhance film and television production workflows. While the exact details of their technology are not fully disclosed, the startup focuses on creating innovative solutions to streamline content creation processes.
How many employees will be transitioning to Netflix with the InterPositive acquisition?
The entire team of 16 engineers and researchers from InterPositive will be moving to Netflix as part of this acquisition. This transfer of talent suggests Netflix is making a significant investment in AI-driven production technology.
What role will Ben Affleck play at Netflix beyond the InterPositive acquisition?
Ben Affleck will serve as a senior adviser to Netflix following the InterPositive acquisition. His role indicates that he will provide strategic guidance and potentially help integrate the AI startup's technologies into Netflix's content production ecosystem.