Netflix Buys Ben Affleck's AI Startup InterPositive for $587 Million

Netflix has paid $587 million to acquire InterPositive, the AI startup co-founded by actor Ben Affleck, as confirmed in a SEC filing. Source: hoydo, eldiado, infobae The deal, announced in March 2026, was finalized recently.

The Acquisition

The payment was made in cash and described as a business combination. Source: eldiado InterPositive, founded in 2022, creates generative AI tools for post-production, trained on production diaries to handle missing shots, background replacements, and lighting issues. Source: hoydo Affleck stated the goal is to "protect and expand creative choice" while keeping decisions in artists' hands. Source: abces

Market Reaction

Despite the strategic move, Netflix's stock has dropped over 26% since the start of 2026, reflecting investor skepticism about AI investments. Source: elpaises Meanwhile, Netflix co-CEO Ted Sarandos revealed that generative AI has been used in around 300 Netflix titles, reducing costs and speeding up production. Source: elpaises, lavanguardia For example, the series "American Experiment" included 17 minutes of AI-enhanced footage produced at half the cost. Source: elpaises

Broader Industry Context

Netflix's acquisition follows a trend: Disney invested $1 billion in OpenAI in late 2025. Source: hoydo Affleck will remain as a senior advisor to Netflix.