Netflix Uses Generative AI for VFX in The Eternaut

Netflix has officially confirmed the use of generative artificial intelligence (AI) in the production of ‘The Eternaut’, an original Argentine sci-fi drama that premiered in April 2025. This marks the first time that generative AI has been used to produce final visual effects (VFX) for a Netflix series. Co-CEO Ted Sarandos revealed that AI was specifically employed to create a shot involving a building collapse set in Buenos Aires. Given the budget constraints of the show, traditional VFX methods would have been too costly. Sarandos explained that the AI-powered tools enabled the team to complete the scene 10 times faster than traditional VFX processes. He emphasized that AI presents a significant opportunity for creators to improve films and series, making them not only cheaper but also better. While this development signals Netflix’s growing interest in AI in production, it has raised concerns in the entertainment industry, especially regarding the legality of training generative AI models on copyrighted material. Despite these concerns, Sarandos remains confident in AI’s potential to transform creative processes.