Netflix just gave its reasons for using generative AI in a TV show — and it could be a watershed moment

Ricardo Darín in "The Eternaut" coming soon to Netflix
(Image credit: Netflix)

AI video has come a long way in recent years. As the quality has risen, so have people’s concerns about its implications for the creative industries. Now, it looks like the tech is making its way further into Hollywood with Netflix giving it its blessing.

In an earnings call, Netflix co-CEO Ted Sarandos opened up on how the Netflix team behind the TV show The Eternaut utilised AI to speed up the production process.

The use of AI appears in one scene in the show. It depicts a building collapsing and was made in collaboration between Netflix’s internal production team and a group of producers using AI to help create the scene.

Netflix

(Image credit: Shutterstock; Netflix)

Sarandos claimed that, through the use of AI, the scene was completed 10 times faster than would have been possible with traditional tools. It was also done at a much lower cost.

Through the use of AI, the scene was completed 10 times faster than would have been possible with traditional tools. It was also done at a much lower cost.

“We remain convinced that AI represents an incredible opportunity to help creators make films and series better, not just cheaper. There are AI-powered creator tools. So this is real people doing real work with better tools,” Sarandos said during the call.

“Our creators are already seeing the benefits in production through pre-visualization and shot-planning work, and certainly visual effects. It used to be that only big-budget projects would have access to advanced visual effects like de-aging.”

Netflix’s other CEO, Greg Peters, has also said that the company is using generative AI in other parts of the business.

This includes personalization, search and advertisements. However, this is the first time Netflix has publicly used AI in the production of one of its shows.

Is AI now at film-level quality?

Moonvalley AI

Moonvalley's video clips could be the next big thing in TV and film (Image credit: Moonvalley AI)

Just a few years ago, the quality of AI video was so poor that any reasonable person would have spotted it in a TV show or film. However, that is no longer the case.

The likes of Google’s Veo 3 have shown how far not just AI video has come but even AI audio generation.

Recently, the first copyright-free AI video generator was announced. It claimed to be able to produce AI video at movie-level quality and aimed to help movie makers speed up the production process and reduce costs.

While it is not clear which AI software Netflix used in this process, the quality was high enough to be undetectable.

Netflix has seemingly become pretty comfortable with the use of AI. It uses AI art generators for the intro of its Marvel TV show Secret Invasion, and has been rolling out AI features across different parts of its platform.

Based on the success of this latest project, and the company's positive attitude towards it, I wouldn't be surprised to see Netflix delve deeper into the use of AI in future projects.

More from Tom's Guide

Follow Tom's Guide on Google News to get our up-to-date news, how-tos, and reviews in your feeds. Make sure to click the Follow button.

Category
Arrow
Arrow
Back to Laptops
Brand
Arrow
Processor
Arrow
RAM
Arrow
Storage Size
Arrow
Screen Size
Arrow
Colour
Arrow
Condition
Arrow
Screen Type
Arrow
Storage Type
Arrow
Price
Arrow
Any Price
Showing 10 of 122 deals
Filters
Arrow
Show more
Alex Hughes
AI Editor

Alex is the AI editor at TomsGuide. Dialed into all things artificial intelligence in the world right now, he knows the best chatbots, the weirdest AI image generators, and the ins and outs of one of tech’s biggest topics.

Before joining the Tom’s Guide team, Alex worked for the brands TechRadar and BBC Science Focus.

He was highly commended in the Specialist Writer category at the BSME's 2023 and was part of a team to win best podcast at the BSME's 2025.

In his time as a journalist, he has covered the latest in AI and robotics, broadband deals, the potential for alien life, the science of being slapped, and just about everything in between.

When he’s not trying to wrap his head around the latest AI whitepaper, Alex pretends to be a capable runner, cook, and climber.

You must confirm your public display name before commenting

Please logout and then login again, you will then be prompted to enter your display name.