Netflix has officially utilised AI in one of its shows, demonstrating another use case for this emerging technology. AI video tools were used to create a scene of a building collapsing in an Argentinian science fiction series called El Eternauta.
According to Netflix, they didn't have the budget to use conventional tools, so they went with the cheaper option of AI. The company says that using normal visual effects would have taken them 10 times longer. I haven't seen the scene, despite my best efforts, so I can't comment on its quality.
If it's as good as current-generation visual effects, at a fraction of the cost, then there is about to be a major shift in Hollywood. I suspect that AI isn't there just yet, or Netflix would have used it for more than just one scene.
Ted Sarandos, Netflix co-CEO, said: "This is real people doing real work with better tools. Our creators are already seeing the benefits in production through pre-visualisation and shot planning work, and certainly visual effects. I think these tools are helping creators expand the possibilities of storytelling on screen, and that is endlessly exciting."
AI is firmly entrenching itself in modern society. This is why the likes of Meta, Amazon, Google and Microsoft plan to spend tens of billions a year, for many years, to provide the computing power needed to run the technology effectively.