Ben Affleck’s AI Company

PRESENTED BY THE DEEP VIEW

It’s Friday, Future Party. It’s always a pleasure when longtime rival brands throw shade at each other. After McDonald’s CEO Chris Kempczinski showed off the new Big Arch burger with the tiniest, baby-bird bite, Burger King CEO Tom Curtis clapped back with a video of himself taking a big ol’ bite of a Whopper. But social media is all about authenticity. So, while Kempczinski’s awkward video may have made people laugh, Curtis’ rolled-up sleeves and apron might have felt a bit too calculated. All of which is to say: a single bite of a burger can be a masterclass in marketing.

Ben Affleck just revealed that he founded an AI-powered filmmaking startup called InterPositive — and has already sold it to Netflix for an undisclosed sum. The tool could reshape how projects are made at the streamer.

The Big Picture: Like it or not, AI has arrived across the entertainment industry. Affleck recognized that early on, so he created a company to help guide how the tech is used in film and TV. The goal: speed up post-production without sidelining human artistry.

Behind The Scenes: Affleck drew on his experience as a writer, director, actor, and producer to inform how AI could help — rather than harm — the film and TV industry.

Final Credits: This marks the second time in a month that Affleck and Netflix are shaking up the industry together. Recently, Affleck and Matt Damon’s Artists Equity — an indie studio that shares financial windfalls with every member of the cast and crew — struck a streaming-only deal with the company after the success of The Rip. His next directorial effort, Animals, debuts later this year.

With the InterPositive deal, Affleck will step in as a senior adviser at Netflix to oversee its rollout across the streamer’s slate. It’s a rare acquisition for the company (which recently bowed out of the bidding for Warner Bros.) that, while small, could be a meaningful draw for filmmakers eager to experiment with AI responsibly.

Coming Soon: Since Netflix doesn’t plan to license the tech to other studios, expect rivals to accelerate development of their own proprietary AI tools to compete. The deal could mark a watershed moment for AI adoption in Hollywood.

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Keith Lee, arguably the world’s biggest food influencer, is making his first investment in a restaurant brand — the Asian fusion chain Brooklyn Dumpling Shop.

Why It Hits: There’s nothing new about digital creators investing in brands, but Keith Lee has a unique effect — when he visits a spot, visits and sales go through the roof almost immediately. People unequivocally trust his taste. By taking the step to become a legitimate shareholder and ambassador for the company, Brooklyn Dumpling Shop has the opportunity to grow into a top national chain.

Between The Bites: Keith Lee must really love dumplings.

Final Order: With over 20 million followers across social platforms, Lee has the ability to put any restaurant on the map — or even launch his own brand like MrBeast. But the ability to juice sales doesn’t necessarily mean the product will be great (looking at you, Beast Burgers), which Lee seems to recognize. Quality and accessibility are what Lee celebrates in his content, so partnering with a brand that embodies those traits was always likely the right move.

And now dumplings sound pretty good for lunch.

Next Meal: Brooklyn Dumpling Shop is planning a major North American expansion, so expect Lee to play a crucial role in rallying the community whenever a new location opens.

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39.9% of you voted Not anymore in yesterday’s poll: Do you watch talk shows these days?

“So many went off the rails — Colbert, Kimmel, and finally, let’s not forget that Barbara Walters would be turning over in her grave over The View.”

“I used to watch Letterman and some of the other talk shows, but I stopped watching most network talk shows around 15–20 years ago when they became too political and not fun or funny anymore. I’ll occasionally watch Gutfeld or Maher now, but mainly just catch the opening monologue or clips on social media.”

“Social media is the new talk show.”

“Occasionally, my dad will send me a link to an episode he thinks I’ll like or find interesting, but it’s not something I ever look for.”

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🍿 It’s not over until the fat regulator sings: California AG Rob Bonta says he and several other state AGs may team up to block Paramount’s merger with Warner Bros. Discovery over antitrust concerns.

🎮 Range Media Partners is opening up a game-publishing division under Electronic Arts vet Ben Jones.

⚽ Digital creator KSI is becoming an owner of the soccer club Dagenham & Redbridge FC.

🚙 Rivian is hoping its forthcoming R2 car rollout accelerates to become the fastest launch in EV history.

🤖 a16z is backing a $100 million funding round for Embo — an AI startup founded by two Google DeepMind researchers that’s building “world models.”

👨‍💻 Roblox will start using AI to either rephrase or filter out speech that’s banned on the platform.

👕 The Virgil Abloh Archive is rolling out a print magazine… and the subscription is free.

💵 The Court of International Trade has ruled that the Trump administration must begin reimbursing companies for the struck-down tariffs.

👀 Sam Altman’s eye-scanning Tools For Humanity firm is hoping that partnerships with Visa, Gap, and Tinder will convince people to sign up.