Okay, so Netflix just went ahead and bought an AI filmmaking startup called InterPositive. Now, here's the interesting part: it was founded by none other than Ben Affleck back in 2022. Yeah, that Ben Affleck.

Apparently, Affleck has been quietly building this company, InterPositive, for a couple of years. He mentioned that he noticed the rise of AI in film production and felt that the existing models weren't quite cutting it. So, he created tools that generate AI models based on a production's daily footage. Think about it: filmmakers could use these models in post-production to tweak colors, relight scenes, and even add those cool visual effects. Cool, right?

It's important to note, however, that this isn't about creating something from scratch. Affleck emphasizes that it's about enhancing what's already there, keeping filmmakers in control. I guess that's why Netflix is saying they want to keep filmmakers "at the center of the process." But, with these things, you never know, do you?

While the details of the deal are still under wraps, Affleck will stay on as a senior advisor, and the entire InterPositive team is joining Netflix. It's a bit reassuring that Affleck seems to get the importance of keeping the human element in storytelling. He said we need to preserve the "judgment" that only people can have. He feels responsible for protecting the power of human creativity. I can definitely get behind that!

However, let's be real. Affleck is just an advisor now. And, as much as I'd like to believe Netflix will always prioritize creators, they've been using AI for some... questionable things lately (like making ads more intrusive). So, I'm keeping my expectations tempered. It'll be interesting to see how this acquisition plays out and whether it truly empowers filmmakers or just turns into another way for Netflix to cut costs and streamline production.

Netflix says they'll offer InterPositive's tech to their creative partners but won't be selling it to anyone else. Let's hope this tech is used to make films better and to push storytelling boundaries without reducing human creativity. Only time will tell.