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Netflix has used generative artificial intelligence to produce a visual effects scene in an original series for the first time, marking a new step for the streaming platform.
Netflix has used generative artificial intelligence (AI) in one of its original shows for the first time, the company confirmed this week.
The streaming giant applied the technology in The Eternaut, an Argentine science fiction series, to create a dramatic building collapse scene. According to Netflix co-CEO Ted Sarandos, the generative AI helped the production team finish the complex sequence ten times faster and at significantly lower cost than traditional methods.
“The cost just would not have been feasible for a show of that budget,” Sarandos said, calling it “the very first generative AI final footage to appear on screen in a Netflix original.”
His comments came as Netflix posted a 16 percent rise in revenue to 11 billion dollars for the April to June quarter, driven by strong performances from shows like the final season of Squid Game, which has drawn over 122 million views.
Generative AI tools can create realistic video and imagery from text prompts. Their growing use in entertainment, however, remains contentious. Critics warn of ethical concerns, copyright issues, and potential job losses. All of these topics were central during the 2023 Hollywood strikes.
Filmmaker Tyler Perry notably paused an 800 million dollar studio expansion in 2024, citing fears over AI’s rapid advancement.
Still, many in the industry say AI is becoming indispensable. Davier Yoon, co-founder of Singapore’s CraveFX studio, said it gives smaller teams access to blockbuster level visual quality. “Ultimately, it is the artist who decides what is in the final image, not AI,” he added.
The world’s biggest dance music festival faces an unexpected setback as a fire destroys its main stage, prompting a last-minute response from organisers determined to keep the party alive in Boom, Belgium.
China and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations will send an upgraded ‘version 3.0’ free-trade agreement to their heads of government for approval in October, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said on Saturday after regional talks in Kuala Lumpur.
Germany's export slump since 2021 is largely driven by deep-rooted competitiveness issues, the Bundesbank warned in its latest report, calling for urgent structural reforms.
Israeli researchers have unveiled an artificial intelligence tool that can determine a person’s true biological age from tiny DNA samples with remarkable precision.
Two Harry Potter actresses, Emma Watson and Zoe Wanamaker, have each received a six-month driving ban after separate speeding offences, both sentenced on the same day at a Buckinghamshire court.
Elon Musk’s xAI chatbot Grok has come under global scrutiny after users reported it using offensive language. It prompted warnings from experts that human intervention in its responses proves the need for a global AI ethical framework.
Major American corporations unveiled over $90 billion in new investments focused on AI and energy during the Energy and Innovation Summit at Carnegie Mellon University on Tuesday. The announcements come as President Donald Trump pushes to cement U.S. leadership in the booming tech and energy sectors
Nvidia has received approval from the U.S. government to sell its advanced H20 AI chips to China, CEO Jensen Huang announced.
Apple and mining company MP Materials announced a joint $500 million investment to develop a rare earth magnet recycling facility, with plans to bolster U.S.-based production and reduce reliance on China.
Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg announced plans to invest hundreds of billions of dollars into building next-generation AI data centres, signalling an aggressive long-term bet on superintelligence and reaffirming Meta’s leadership ambitions in the global AI race.
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