Netflix Uses AI for Landmark Series Visual Effects

Netflix has integrated generative AI into the post-production of its upcoming Argentinian sci-fi series, El Eternauta, using the technology to create a complex building collapse scene much faster and more cost-effectively than traditional methods. Co-CEO Ted Sarandos announced during the Q2 2025 earnings call that this AI-powered visual effects work was completed ten times faster than standard workflows, enabling ambitious storytelling within budget constraints. Sarandos emphasized that AI is intended to empower creators, not replace them, with human talent remaining central to the creative process. The move is part of Netflix's broader strategy to improve production efficiency and reduce costs, enabling greater creative experimentation. This development has renewed debate over AI's impact on jobs in creative industries, but Netflix maintains that human input is being expanded, not diminished. Industry analysts view this as a watershed moment likely to accelerate AI adoption throughout Hollywood.