What happened in this Culture story?

Hollywood's biggest players and a wave of AI-native disruptors are moving generative tools from experiment to standard production practice, with Netflix's near-$600 million InterPositive buy leading a wave of AI-first strategies.

What is a key fact in this story? (1)

**Netflix** acquired Ben Affleck's InterPositive AI startup for nearly $600 million in March, has incorporated generative AI into roughly 300 programs across its library, and worked with ElevenLabs on an AI replica of Gene Wilder's voice for an upcoming reality show.

What is a key fact in this story? (2)

**Amazon MGM** appointed Albert Cheng as its first head of "AI Studios" and announced a slate of AI-animated shows at its "AI on the Lot" conference, though director Jorge R. Gutierrez dropped out of one project after backlash over AI animation.

Netflix, Amazon, Google Race to Deploy AI in Hollywood — SkimNews

By Variety · Summarized & edited by Kapil Samant · 2026-09-17

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Netflix acquired Ben Affleck's InterPositive AI startup for nearly $600 million in March, has incorporated generative AI into roughly 300 programs across its library, and worked with ElevenLabs on an AI replica of Gene Wilder's voice for an upcoming reality show.
Amazon MGM appointed Albert Cheng as its first head of "AI Studios" and announced a slate of AI-animated shows at its "AI on the Lot" conference, though director Jorge R. Gutierrez dropped out of one project after backlash over AI animation.
Lionsgate named Kathleen Grace its first-ever chief AI officer in February and expanded its Runway partnership, taking an equity stake to develop an AI-generated short-form series drawn from its own franchises.
Google's DeepMind invested $75 million in A24, partnered with Darren Aronofsky's Primordial Soup studio, and powered the AI-driven production of "The Wizard of Oz" at the Sphere in Las Vegas, with potential involvement in an upcoming "Rocky Horror Picture Show" staging.
Particle 6's AI "actress" Tilly Norwood ignited a firestorm that prompted new SAG-AFTRA guidelines on synthetic performers, though CEO Eline Van der Velden insists Tilly targets "underserved," niche audiences rather than replacing human actors.
Fountain 0 debuted "Dreams of Violets" at Tribeca in June as one of the first fully AI-generated films at a major festival, and signed "The View" co-host Sunny Hostin to a likeness-licensing deal for novel adaptations.
Runway and Higgsfield are pushing generative-AI tools toward aspiring filmmakers through contests, festivals, and likeness deals — exemplified by Kane Parsons' leap from YouTube "Backrooms" videos to a theatrical thriller.

Why it matters: With Netflix already running 300 AI-enabled programs and studios now appointing dedicated AI chiefs, the production timeline is shifting — Amazon MGM's Cheng aims to end the 24-month wait between seasons. SAG-AFTRA's new synthetic-performer guidelines show the labor side is already responding to the same wave.