Netflix has officially confirmed that it paid approximately $587 million in cash to acquire InterPositive, the artificial intelligence startup founded by actor and filmmaker Ben Affleck.
The purchase, completed in March 2026, was disclosed in the company’s latest Form 10-Q filing with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), confirming earlier reports that valued the deal at close to $600 million.
According to Variety, the acquisition marks a significant step in Netflix’s growing investment in AI-powered filmmaking technology while maintaining that creative professionals remain at the center of the production process.
InterPositive will help expand Netflix’s AI-powered production tools
Affleck founded InterPositive in 2022, operating the company in stealth mode before its acquisition. Rather than focusing on AI-generated content, the startup developed tools designed to assist filmmakers during post-production.
Its technology allows production teams to build AI models using production dailies, helping streamline tasks such as relighting scenes, visual effects, and audio mixing. As part of the acquisition, Netflix also welcomed InterPositive’s 16-person team of engineers, researchers, and creatives, while Affleck joined the company as a senior adviser.
Commenting on the partnership during the original merger announcement, Affleck said:
“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. 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 says AI is designed to support creators, not replace them
Netflix also discussed its AI strategy during its second-quarter 2026 earnings call. Co-CEO Ted Sarandos revealed that roughly 300 Netflix titles have incorporated some form of generative AI this year, including the documentary series The American Experiment, where AI reportedly helped create sequences twice as fast and at half the cost of previous methods.
Despite the increased adoption of AI, Sarandos emphasized that the company is committed to keeping human creativity at the forefront.
“We believe it takes great artists to make something great, and AI is not changing that. Movies are being made by people who make movies. AI provides them with better tools to make them even better.”
The acquisition positions Netflix to further integrate AI-assisted production workflows while reinforcing its message that technology should enhance—not replace—the work of filmmakers.
