Netflix Integrates Generative AI for the First Time in Original Sci-Fi Series

Netflix has officially incorporated generative artificial intelligence (AI) into one of its original productions, marking a first for the streaming giant.

According to co-CEO Ted Sarandos, the technology was used to generate a building collapse scene in "The Eternauts", a new Argentine science fiction series.

Generative AI, which creates visuals and video content based on user prompts, enabled the team to render complex visual effects with greater speed and reduced costs.

Sarandos highlighted that the scene—set in Buenos Aires—was completed ten times faster than traditional methods would allow, making high-quality VFX possible on a tighter production budget.

“The cost wouldn’t have been feasible otherwise,” he said, adding that the scene represents the first fully AI-generated footage to appear in a Netflix original series or film. “The creators were thrilled with the result,” Sarandos noted.

The use of generative AI in film and television remains contentious. Critics argue it may exploit existing creative works without consent and potentially displace human jobs.

These concerns were at the forefront during the Hollywood strikes of 2023, when the Screen Actors Guild–American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (SAG-AFTRA) demanded stricter oversight of AI in media production.

Despite the controversy, Netflix reported strong earnings for Q2 2025, posting a 16% year-over-year revenue increase to $11 billion, with profits climbing from $2.1 billion to $3.1 billion.

The final season of the hit Korean thriller Squid Game significantly contributed to this growth, drawing 122 million views.

Sarandos emphasized that AI technology levels the playing field for lower-budget projects, enabling them to access high-end VFX capabilities that were previously out of reach.

Industry leaders are beginning to embrace this shift. Davier Yoon, co-founder of Singapore-based animation studio CraveFX, commented that Netflix’s move was expected.

“AI is becoming just another tool in the VFX artist’s toolkit. It empowers smaller studios to produce visuals that previously required blockbuster budgets.”

However, the rapid advancement of AI also raises flags. In 2024, filmmaker Tyler Perry suspended an $800 million studio expansion in Atlanta, citing concerns about AI-generated video content potentially threatening industry jobs.

Tools like OpenAI’s Sora, capable of creating high-quality footage from simple text prompts, have sparked both admiration and anxiety across the creative landscape.