Netflix co-CEO Ted Sarandos has emphasized that the adoption of generative artificial intelligence tools in film and television production is about unlocking greater creativity, not merely reducing expenses. Speaking to financial analysts following Netflix´s second quarter financial results, Sarandos framed artificial intelligence as a way to help creators deliver superior films and series. He stated, ´We remain convinced that artificial intelligence represents an incredible opportunity to help creators make films and series better, not just cheaper.´
Sarandos highlighted tangible benefits already appearing in production workflows, particularly in areas like pre-visualization, shot planning, and visual effects. According to him, creators are experiencing enhanced efficiency and expanded creative potential through these new tools. He detailed recent advances made in the Argentine sci-fi series ´El Eternauta´ (´The Eternaut´), which used artificial intelligence-driven visual effects in combination with virtual production methods. Specifically, Netflix partnered with Argentinian VFX artists to produce groundbreaking scenes, such as a building collapse in Buenos Aires, which Sarandos said was completed ten times faster than traditional visual effects processes would have allowed.
Significantly, Sarandos pointed out that these innovations are not limited to massive Hollywood-scale budgets. The successful implementation of artificial intelligence-powered and traditional digital effects enabled ´El Eternauta,´ a six-part series with an all-Argentine cast and crew on a modest budget, to deliver ambitious visuals. Sarandos underscored the broad satisfaction from creators, Netflix, and audiences, noting, ´The creators were thrilled with the result. We were thrilled with the result, and more importantly the audience was thrilled with the result.´ He believes that artificial intelligence tools are empowering storytellers and dramatically expanding the breadth of what can be achieved on screen, describing the evolution as ´endlessly exciting.´
