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Ben Affleck Uses AI in 'Animals
Confirmed
In Short: Ben Affleck, the two-time Oscar winner, revealed that he used artificial intelligence (AI) for 'lots of things' in the making of his latest Netflix film, 'Animals,' which premieres Oct. 9 in select theaters and on the streaming platform.
Affleck, who co-wrote, directed, and starred in the film, made the disclosure during a Q&A session at Bloomberg's Screentime event. He noted that he was hesitant to specify the exact applications of AI in the movie, as it might detract from the illusion of reality that the film aims to create.
Animals' stars Affleck as Mark Kimball, a Los Angeles mayoral candidate whose son is kidnapped, forcing him and his wife Abigail (played by Kerry Washington) to navigate a tense situation to secure the ransom money.
The film also features Gillian Anderson and Steven Yuen in supporting roles. Affleck founded InterPositive, an AI filmmaking startup, in 2022 and sold it to Netflix for $587 million in March this year.
Affleck believes that once people spend more time with AI tools, they will gain a sense of control over the technology and become less fearful of it. He emphasized that AI should not be seen as a nebulous, abstract, or terrifying entity but rather as a tool that can be understood and utilized effectively.
Animals' is set to premiere on Netflix on October 9, offering audiences a glimpse into how AI can be integrated into filmmaking without compromising the human elements of storytelling.
What this adds
Affleck's use of AI in 'Animals' highlights the growing integration of technology in the film industry, but he remains cautious about revealing specific applications to maintain the film's realism.
Background
Animals are multicellular, eukaryotic organisms belonging to the biological kingdom Animalia. Animals consume organic material, breathe oxygen, have muscle cells, can reproduce sexually, and grow from a hollow sphere of cells, the blastula, during embryonic development.
What's confirmed
- “I used [ AI ] for lots of things in that movie,” he revealed at a Q&A for Bloomberg Screentime.
What's still developing
- After unloading his AI firm on Netflix earlier this year, Ben Affleck is showing off the tech in action with his latest project.
- The 2x Oscar winner recently revealed that he “did use” artificial intelligence “for lots of things” in the making of Animals, which he co-wrote, directed and starred in, premiering Oct. 9 in select theaters and on Netflix.
- He quietly founded the company in 2022 and served as CEO, taking on a senior advisor role after Netflix’s acquisition.
- "I used (AI) for lots of things in that movie. I'm a little bit hesitant to point out what they are - or even talk about it - because in my business, we're trying to foster the illusion of reality, right?" he said.
- However, he declined to divulge how and where AI was used in his film, insisting that it would spoil the movie magic.