Netflix’s co-CEO, Ted Sarandos, has admitted that generative AI was used to create a scene from the Argentine science fiction television series,The Eternaut. Based on Héctor Germán Oesterheld and Francisco Solano López’s comic of the same name, theNetflix sci-fi showboasts an impressive Rotten Tomatoes score of 96% and was renewed for season 2 soon after its premiere.
Sarandos' statement revealed that AI was used to generate a scene involving the collapse of a building in Buenos Aires, Argentina. While the use of AI in television and movies has often been criticized,Sarandos defended the creative decision by claiming that the “VFX sequence was completed 10 times faster than it could have been completed with traditional VFX tools and workflows.”
Highlighting how it also helped with cost-cutting, the CEO added that “the cost of it just wouldn’t have been feasible for a show in that budget.” Sarandos also supported the use of AI by saying that it can not only help creators make significantly cheaper shows and movies but also give them the opportunity to create something better.
What The Use Of AI In The Eternaut Means For The Future Of Television
It Triggers Many Complex Discussions About The Loss Of Creative Autonomy & Jobs
The use of AI in television shows and movies has often received a divisive reaction from audiences. While some seem to agree that the use of AI does not bother them as long as the final product is worth watching,others have argued that the growing reliance on AI for content generation comes with a massive cost.
Since AI VFX tools still have limitations, their overuse can also lead to a massive decline in artistic nuance and identity over time, given how traditional methods still allow one to infuse more depth, intentional imperfections, and human elements. The AI tools in question might eventually catch up, but that is when they would potentially threaten the jobs of many in the field.
It is arguably a little too soon to draw any conclusions about the long-term implications of AI on the job market and the VFX industry, but the growing concerns are valid. Sarandos' admission, however, seems to suggest that despite the concerns, Netflix will gradually lean further towards integrating AI into the production pipeline to save cost and time.
Our Take On The Use Of AI In The Eternaut
It Only Seems Like An Asset So Far, But The Future Is Uncertain
Considering how AI-generated videos are already taking the internet by storm, the use of AI in mainstreamshows, likeThe Eternaut, was inevitable. Since AI was only used for one sequence in theNetflix post-apocalyptic show, it seems likeNetflix and other productions are only gradually transitioning towards incorporating AI instead of suddenly replacing human effort.
The slow transition is relieving because it allows creatives to keep up with evolving technologies without feeling alienated or displaced. However, there are still concerns surrounding how AI models are being trained and whether original content is being pirated without consent.
While it is still interesting how AI was used for a sequence inThe Eternaut, the development clearly comes with many caveats.
