In a recent Q2 2025 earnings call, Netflix disclosed that it employed artificial intelligence to generate a visual sequence in its original sci-fi thriller The Eternaut. This marks the first official acknowledgment by the company of utilizing AI in the production of its shows.
The scene in question features a building collapse triggered by a train crash in Buenos Aires. Rather than relying on traditional filming and VFX methods, Netflix opted for an AI-generated solution. According to The Verge, co-CEO Ted Sarandos explained that using AI for the sequence significantly accelerated production and reduced costs. Although no specific AI model was named, Sarandos emphasized that the technology enabled the team to complete the scene ten times faster than conventional workflows would have allowed.
Released on April 30, The Eternaut spans eight episodes and introduces viewers to a post-apocalyptic mystery set in Argentina. With this development, Netflix signals a growing confidence in AI’s potential to reshape film production, stating future intentions to use it not only as a budget-saving tool but also as a creative enhancer for filmmakers.
The platform joins a growing list of studios experimenting with AI. In 2024, the period drama The Brutalist integrated AI to refine dialogue delivery and visualize architectural elements, earning a nomination for Best Picture at the 2025 Oscars.
