Recently, Ted Sarandos, co-CEO of Netflix, revealed during a conference call with investors that the platform has used generative AI technology for the first time in its original series "El Eternauta" to create visual effects. This move is seen by Netflix as a major breakthrough, aiming to shorten production cycles, reduce costs, and improve the quality of series and movies.
Image source note: The image was generated by AI, and the image licensing service provider is Midjourney
"El Eternauta" is an Argentine science fiction series set in a post-apocalyptic world covered by toxic snow. In this setting, the creators of the series used AI technology to depict the collapse of a building. Sarandos stated that using AI tools made the completion of this special effect ten times faster than traditional special effect tools. He emphasized that in the past, only high-budget projects could use advanced visual effects, but now more creators can benefit from these technologies.
After its premiere in late April, the series received significant attention and praise, especially for the quality of its special effects. According to reports, "El Eternauta" includes as many as 2000 visual effects shots. When producing a television series, facing a large number of shots and tight budgets, the production team hopes to accelerate the production process through AI technology.
Although AI provides convenience in film and television production, discussions about its impact within the industry continue. Actors are striving to secure protections regarding AI technology during negotiations with film and television companies. In Hollywood's history, actors have carried out the longest strike to fight for these rights, and game performers also reached a preliminary agreement last month to end their strike. Industry professionals are concerned that AI may replace their job opportunities.
Additionally, while generative AI can bring efficiency to production, there are certain artistic controversies. Some AI-generated works have inconsistent quality, which may affect the integrity of the creation. Netflix's other CEO, Greg Peters, once stated that AI could become a "key" narrative tool for creators, despite the fact that the platform has also been criticized for using AI to reconstruct voices in documentaries.
In the competition, Amazon has actively explored AI technology, including generated series summaries and recommendation tools based on character storylines. In March of this year, the company launched some "AI-assisted" dubbed television series. As Netflix continues to apply this technology, how the industry will evolve remains to be watched.
Key Points:
🌟 Netflix has used generative AI technology for the first time in the series "El Eternauta," improving the efficiency of special effects production.
🚀 Using AI tools has increased the speed of special effects production by ten times, providing possibilities for more projects.
⚖️ Discussions about the impact of AI continue in the industry, with challenges to actor rights and artistic quality.