--- title: "Netflix, Intent on Using AI to Own BackGround Actors’ Faces in Perpetuity Without Pay, Will Pay You $900k If You Tell Them How to Cash in on AI" description: "Netflix wants to pay someone anywhere between $300,000 and $900,000 to tell them exactly how it can cash in on AI tech." date: "2023-07-27" modified: "2023-07-27" authors: - name: "Maggie Harrison Dupré" job_title: "Senior Staff Writer" link: "https://futurism.com/authors/mharrison" url: "https://futurism.com/the-byte/netflix-cash-in-ai" categories: - "Artificial Intelligence" tags: - "ai" - "ai-generated content" - "streaming" - "the digest" --- # Netflix, Intent on Using AI to Own BackGround Actors’ Faces in Perpetuity Without Pay, Will Pay You $900k If You Tell Them How to Cash in on AI ![Netflix wants to pay someone anywhere between $300,000 and $900,000 to tell them exactly how it can cash in on AI tech.]() *Adult couple watching series online in streaming platform bringin cinema at home, picture taken from personal perspective with legs and bright screen illuminating the bedroom with red light. \Image: Getty Images\* ## Joan Is Awful Streaming giant Netflix, which is one of many studios currently fighting with the striking SAG Union over, among other things, whether they should be allowed to pay background actors one single day's rate for the right to [deepfake an actor's visage]() into any future content they may wish, has the perfect place to put all of that money it apparently doesn't have for writers and actors: according to a [job posting](), it wants to pay someone anywhere between $300,000 and $900,000 to tell them exactly how it can cash in on AI tech. First [caught by *Gizmodo*](), the posting is specifically looking for a machine learning product manager, and is comically vague about what this very well-compensated manager might actually *do.* As *Giz* points out, Netflix does employ AI in places like its recommendation algorithms and thumbnails, but based on the description and salary, this seems less like a background engineering role and much more like an overall strategy-slash-brainstorming position. "With more than 230 million members in over 190 countries, Netflix continues to shape the future of entertainment around the world," reads the listing. "Machine Learning/Artificial Intelligence is powering innovation in all areas of the business." "The Machine Learning Platform (MLP) provides the foundation for all of this innovation. It offers ML/AI practitioners across Netflix the means to achieve the highest possible impact with their work by making it easy to develop, deploy and improve their machine-learning models," it continues. "We are creating a new Product Management role to increase the leverage of our Machine Learning Platform." ## Machine Learning Visions In the listed qualifications, Netflix asks its AI management applicants to combine a number of skills to "define, explain and execute your vision." Indeed, most of the qualifications involve a mention of the ML manager's "vision" for Netflix's continued use of AI. Which honestly seems to imply that Netflix's vision for AI is to generally jam the tech into every corner of its business. The whole thing is pretty depressing, if unsurprising, given that Netflix has made it very clear these past few months that it's unwilling to let go of its AI ambitions. Looking at this job listing, Netflix certainly seems intent on putting its money where its mouth is. We might expect other studios to follow suit. So, if brainstorming ways to architect our content economy's final descension into AI-spun nothingstuff sounds like your deal — well, enjoy the high life, buddy. **More on streaming and AI:** [*Studios Want to Replace Background Actors With AI After Paying Them for Only One Day*]() ## Author At Futurism, I've reported extensively on the rise of AI as a cultural and business force shaping the media industry, and more broadly how those dynamics are changing how we all consume and share information and relate to one another. I'm also fascinated by public health policy and ethics, the role of emerging tech in politics and governance — and the powerful people and forces at those intersections — climate change, and the environment. My investigation on Sports Illustrated's use of AI-generated authors with fictional biographies won a 2024 Mirror Award for "Best Story on Media Coverage of Artificial Intelligence in Journalism and the Media" from Syracuse University's SI Newhouse School, I contributed to Niemen Lab's 2025 Predictions for Journalism series, and I've discussed my work for Futurism during appearances on NPR, CNN, the BBC, the CBC, and more. I grew up in rural Pennsylvania and attended the University of Massachusetts Amherst, where I played Division I field hockey for the Minutewomen as a midfielder. Since then, I've lived in New Orleans, Louisiana and Manhattan, New York. I spend my free time running, reading, perusing archival fashion, and searching for the world’s best negroni. I also have a debonair tuxedo cat, Westley, who's named after "The Princess Bride." ### Author social links [Bluesky]()