Summary of Key Points
Ben Affleck, the actor who plays Batman, founded a company called InterPositive, which specializes in AI tools for the film industry. Netflix acquired the company for approximately 4 billion RMB. This move reflects Affleck's concern about the "industrialized assembly line" approach in the film industry—he does not want AI to replace creators but rather to use it as a tool to enhance efficiency and protect creativity. After the acquisition, Affleck joined Netflix as an advisor, continuing to promote the responsible use of AI in filmmaking. His shift from criticizing Netflix's production methods to collaborating with them represents a more flexible approach to achieving his original goals.
1. Ben Affleck and InterPositive: Not Just Playing Around with AI
Affleck didn't enter the AI field lightly. He won an Oscar for Best Writing at the age of 25 for *The Catcher in the Rye* and for Best Picture at 40 for *Argo*. He truly understands film. He has observed that modern superhero movies often follow a formulaic approach, focusing on elements that appeal to young audiences to quickly make money. He even suggested that *Argo* might not have been released today due to current industry standards.
When AI emerged, Affleck was initially skeptical: "Could a computer create a story I spent so much time on with just a few keystrokes?" However, he decided to study how AI could be used. In 2022, he and Matt Damon launched the "Artists' Rights Initiative" to share profits with behind-the-scenes workers and then founded InterPositive to use AI to solve technical issues in film production, giving creators more freedom.
2. InterPositive: An AI Tool That Doesn't Compete for Jobs
InterPositive's AI is different from popular tools like Sora or ChatGPT; it doesn't write scripts or generate images. Its role is to provide technical assistance, such as adjusting lighting, fixing inconsistencies in actor performances, and reorganizing camera angles.
Its advantage lies in Affleck's extensive film database, which helps train the AI models to better understand the nuances of cinema. However, Affleck has strictly limited its functions to prevent it from taking over creative processes. As a result, InterPositive is less well-known but highly specialized, focusing solely on supporting filmmakers.
3. Affleck's Realistic View of AI
Affleck doesn't subscribe to extreme views about the potential of AI. He believes:
- AI is like electricity: It can be beneficial or harmful, depending on how it is used.
- The trap of average outputs: AI-generated content often lacks personal depth and uniqueness.
- AI's role in film: It serves as a tool, similar to CGI, which enhances efficiency but cannot replace human judgment and creativity.
- The hype around AI companies: Many claim dramatic changes in two years are just a way to attract investors, as building data centers is costly.
Even tech media recognize that Affleck has a more realistic understanding of AI than most investors.
4. Netflix's Investment: Efficiency and Shared Values
Why did Netflix invest so much? It needs AI to increase production efficiency—by 2026, it plans to release over 300 films. InterPositive's tools align with Netflix's philosophy that AI should be a helper, not a replacement. Affleck's industry connections and deep understanding of AI also made him an attractive partner. The acquisition will expand InterPositive's team, allowing it to collaborate more closely with Netflix's internal systems.
5. From Critic to Collaborator: Affleck's Flexibility
Affleck once criticized Netflix for its mass-produced films, but now he sees the potential of AI to help filmmakers. By joining forces with Netflix, his tools can assist creators while preserving their creativity. This is not a compromise; it reflects a mature approach to realizing his goal of bringing humanity and innovation back to film.
In Conclusion
Affleck uses AI as a tool to ensure that the film industry embraces technology without losing its human touch. His approach embodies the wisdom of Batman—using resources (in this case, AI) to achieve positive change while maintaining a human-centered focus.