In 2022, Ben Affleck founded an AI company; the actor, who once saw artificial intelligence as a threat, sold his firm to an OTT giant in 2025 and has now used its technology in his latest film, ‘Animals’

Ben Affleck once saw artificial intelligence and thought Hollywood might be in serious trouble. Now, the actor-director has used AI in his own movie. Affleck revealed this week that artificial intelligence was used “for lots of things” in ‘Animals’, his new thriller. The surprising part is not simply that he used AI. It is what happened before this.He went from worrying about what AI could do to filmmaking to building a company around it, selling that company to Netflix and now using the technology in one of his own films.But Affleck insists there is a line between using AI to help make a movie and letting AI make the movie.Ben Affleck used AI in ‘Animals,’ but won't reveal where Speaking at Bloomberg’s Screentime event on October 1, 2026, Ben Affleck was asked about AI’s role in ‘Animals’. “I used [AI] for lots of things in that movie,” he said. That was about as specific as he wanted to get. “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?” Affleck explained.He compared it to a magic show where the magician tells the audience how the trick works before performing it. “It sort of ruins it, right?” he said.Affleck did reveal one important detail: AI helped the production move faster, particularly in post-production. But he has not publicly listed every scene, shot or task where it was used. And he was clear about how he views the finished film.“It’s a very human movie,” Affleck said.Ben Affleck went from being scared of AI to building an AI companyBen Affleck’s interest in AI did not begin with ‘Animals’. In 2022, he founded InterPositive after spending time looking at the early development of AI and worrying about what the technology could mean for filmmakers.In the OTT giant’s announcement of its acquisition of the company on March 5, 2026, Affleck explained that he wanted to build AI specifically around the needs of filmmakers. “For artists to apply these tools towards telling the stories we dedicate our lives to, they need to be purpose-built to represent and protect all the qualities that make a great story,” he said.InterPositive developed tools designed to understand filmmaking problems such as visual logic, editorial consistency, missing shots, background replacements and incorrect lighting.The important part was how the system was designed. Affleck said the technology was built around smaller, controlled datasets and filmmaking techniques rather than performances, with safeguards intended to keep creative decisions with artists.What Ben Affleck actually thinks AI will do to HollywoodBen Affleck has not become an AI evangelist who believes technology can simply write and direct the next great movie. In fact, he has repeatedly questioned whether AI can create something meaningful from scratch.His position is more practical: if AI can take care of certain technical or repetitive parts of filmmaking, it could give filmmakers more time and freedom to focus on the actual story. That is also why his latest admission does not necessarily contradict his earlier concerns.Affleck was once worried that AI could replace filmmakers. Now he is trying to show what he believes the alternative looks like — a human-made movie where AI is another tool in the process. ‘Animals’, directed and co-written by Affleck and starring Kerry Washington, Steven Yeun and Gillian Anderson, is scheduled to release on Netflix on October 9, 2026.And for now, Affleck is leaving audiences with one unanswered question: what exactly did the AI do? He is not telling. Perhaps, as he said, that would ruin the magic.Get the latest Bollywood & Entertainment News, and more. Download the TOI app.Give your child the gift of confidence! Claim your exclusive TOI Masterclass spot today!