Netflix Makes Massive $587 Million Move To Acquire Ben Affleck’s AI Startup InterPositive

Netflix has officially revealed how much it paid for Ben Affleck’s artificial intelligence startup InterPositive, confirming that the deal was worth hundreds of millions of dollars.

According to a filing with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, Netflix spent approximately $587 million in cash to acquire the company. The information was included in Netflix’s Form 10-Q report, which detailed the company’s financial activity following the acquisition.

The purchase was completed in March, although details about the deal had been unclear for months. Earlier reports from Bloomberg suggested that the agreement could reach around $600 million depending on additional performance-based payments connected to InterPositive and its investors.

Affleck founded InterPositive in 2022 and kept the company mostly private while it developed its technology. The startup focused on creating artificial intelligence tools designed specifically for filmmakers, with the goal of helping artists rather than replacing them.

The acquisition brought InterPositive’s 16-person team of engineers, researchers, and creative professionals into Netflix. Affleck also joined the streaming company as a senior adviser, continuing to work on technology that could change how movies and television shows are produced.

InterPositive’s tools are designed to help filmmakers during the post-production process. The technology can use production footage, also known as dailies, to assist with tasks such as improving lighting, editing visual effects, and adjusting elements of a scene. The company’s approach focuses on using AI as a creative tool while keeping filmmakers involved in the decision-making process.

When Netflix announced the acquisition, Affleck explained that technology has always played a role in the evolution of filmmaking.

“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,” Affleck said. “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 also discussed the company’s growing use of artificial intelligence during the company’s second-quarter earnings call. Sarandos revealed that around 300 Netflix titles had used some form of generative AI during the year, showing how quickly the technology is becoming part of the entertainment industry.

However, Sarandos stressed that Netflix does not view AI as a replacement for filmmakers. Instead, he described it as another tool that can help creators work more efficiently.

“We believe it takes great artists to make something great, and AI is not changing that,” Sarandos said. “Movies are being made by people who make movies. AI provides them with better tools to make them even better.”

Sarandos also pointed to Netflix’s use of AI in projects such as the docuseries ‘The American Experiment,’ where the company said the technology helped create certain sequences faster and at a lower cost compared to traditional methods.

The InterPositive acquisition highlights Netflix’s larger push into entertainment technology as studios continue exploring how artificial intelligence can affect production. While AI remains a controversial topic among many creatives, Netflix appears focused on developing tools that support filmmakers while keeping human creativity at the center.

With the $587 million investment, Affleck’s once-secret startup has become one of the most significant AI moves made by a major Hollywood company, signaling that the relationship between technology and filmmaking is entering a new phase.

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