Media Giants Adopt AI to Cut Production Costs
Netflix and Wētā FX discuss the integration of AI tools into film production to streamline costs and operations.
Updated on Oct. 21, 2026 in Artificial Intelligence
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Netflix has deployed AI tools in over 300 titles while studios utilize technologies like Kling AI to significantly reduce budgets. Filmmakers recently showcased these advancements at the Busan International Film Festival to demonstrate how technology impacts modern production.
Why it matters
AI is increasingly used to handle repetitive, time-consuming tasks, allowing creative teams to focus on artistic intent while lowering total expenditure. This shift reflects a broader industry movement toward automating workflows in previsualization and VFX.
Production of the film The Gulf of Aden saw costs drop by 40 percent through the use of Kling AI. The technology assists in streamlining set-dressing, editing, and VFX by replacing traditional CG workflows.
The players
Netflix
This global streaming platform has incorporated AI tools into approximately 300 of its produced titles.
Wētā FX
Based in New Zealand, this visual effects studio uses AI to automate repetitive tasks and perform precision pixel work.
Kang Yun-sung
He is a filmmaker who co-directed the 2025 feature film Run to the West and successfully utilized AI to reduce production costs.
The details
At the Busan International Film Festival, industry experts noted that AI tools are now applied across previsualization, production design, and editing. Wētā FX clarified that its usage remains focused on pixel correction and repetitive tasks rather than overriding creative decisions.
Timeline
2024 marked the year global media industry AI spending totaled $2.6 billion.
2025 saw the release of Run to the West, co-directed by Kang Yun-sung.
October 2026 served as the timing for the Creative Asia panel discussion in Busan.
2029 is the year industry AI spending is projected to reach $12.5 billion.
The Tech Race
The transition toward AI-driven filmmaking marks a shift from legacy CG and VFX techniques toward automated, cost-efficient production models. This development positions studios that adopt AI rapidly against competitors still relying on traditional labor-heavy workflows.
Viewers may notice changes in production quality or a higher volume of content as studios leverage cost-saving AI to speed up release timelines. These workflows aim to maintain professional standards while allowing smaller productions to access high-end visual effects.
The takeaway
The rapid adoption of AI in filmmaking demonstrates how automation can significantly lower barrier-to-entry costs for high-budget visual effects. As spending scales to $12.5 billion by 2029, these technologies will likely become standard across all tiers of film production.
Further reading
For more on the development of these tools, visit the Artificial Intelligence section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Motion Picture Association.
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