Highlights:
- Netflix confirms first use of AI generated in the visual effects of the Argentine SF series Forever.
- AI helped complete Keyville's collapse scene 10 times faster than traditional methods.
- CE-CEO TED SARANDOS says that AI is not a replacement for artists, but a tool for increasing creativity.
- Moves arise amid continuing debate within the industry over the role of AI and its impact on work.
Netflix has confirmed that it will use artificial intelligence to generate the final visual effect footage for the first time in one of the original shows. The streaming giant revealed that the generation AI was used to create dramatic building collapses in the upcoming Argentine SF series Forevermaking your scenes complete much faster and more cost-effectively than traditional VFX tools.
Eternut makes Argentine's legendary science fiction comics possible using new AI toolsInstagram/theeternaut.netflix
Why Netflix Used AI Forever?
Netflix has become a generated AI to tackle budget constraints while creating ambitious sci-fi series Foreverfollowing survivors of the poisonous snowfall in Buenos Aires. According to Netflix CO-CEO Ted Sarandos, the AI-powered tool allowed VFX teams to complete complex building collapse sequences with only a small portion of their normal time and cost.
During the company's second quarter revenue call, Salandos said the scene “finished 10 times faster than it was completed with traditional workflows.” He added, “The cost wouldn't have been viable for that budget show.” Netflix collaborated with Eyeline Studios, an in-house production team, to provide the final footage.
How does AI change visual effects in streaming?
Using AI Forever It illustrates an important shift in the way streaming platforms approach content creation. AI is already used for pre-visualization and shot planning, but this is the first example of Netflix deploying it on the show for its final VFX output.
Sarandos described the AI tool as “an incredible opportunity to help creators make movies and series better, not cheaper.” He emphasized that real people are still behind the work and strengthen their craft rather than using AI to replace them. “This is real people who do their real work with better tools,” he said.
Successful integration of generation AI allows small production companies to open doors to achieve high-end visuals without a huge hit budget, and level the arena in an increasingly competitive market.
What are your concerns about Entertainment's AI?
The Netflix announcement comes amid ongoing industry concerns about the role of AI in filmmaking. In 2023, both Hollywood writers and actors continued to strike, with AI as the central issue. The union called for protection to ensure that AI will not be used to replace human talent or to utilize existing creative works without consent.
Netflix presents the use of AI as creative aid, but many in the industry are skeptical. Critics argue that relying on AI can devalue craftsmanship and threaten work in areas such as scriptwriting, visual effects, and animation.
The repulsion is already having a real effect. Film director Tyler Perry has suspended the £634 million (6,700 crore) studio expansion due to uncertainty about AI's long-term impact on employment and the creative process.
What's next for Netflix's AI?
Beyond production, Netflix is investigating how AI can improve the user experience. CO-CEO Greg Peters hints at future development, suggesting that AI can enhance content discovery through more natural and conversational search queries. For example, users can quickly find the show by describing their mood, genre, or era.
Additionally, Peters said it could use generated AI to streamline ad creation and reduce advertisers' costs while still maintaining audience relevance.
In particular, Netflix's decision to embrace AI in production Forevershows that technology is here. But as the platform moves forward, there is growing pressure to balance innovation and ethical responsibility.
