Reed Hastings: AI Will Save the Entertainment Industry

Reed Hastings, the co-founder of Netflix, recently shared his thoughts on the potential impact of artificial intelligence (AI) on the entertainment industry. According to him, this sector will be among the least affected by this technology. Hastings expressed this opinion during the April 22 episode of the podcast "Possible," co-hosted by Reid Hoffman, co-founder of LinkedIn, and Aria Finger, Hoffman's chief of staff.

During this episode, Aria Finger asked Hastings about the industries and professions that he believes would be most affected by AI. Hastings responded that the entertainment industry would likely be the least impacted. He explained that viewers are drawn to human conflict and are not interested in the idea of watching robots play basketball. "The least affected, I think, will be entertainment. You won't watch a basketball game with robots. We love human conflict, and that attracts us," he stated.

These comments come at a time when the entertainment industry is facing disruptions due to AI. A persistent debate exists about the possibility that AI could replace certain jobs, but Hastings suggested that jobs in entertainment might be more secure than others in the face of this technological disruption.

The potential impact of AI on the entertainment industry is a topic of concern, ranging from job security to production methods. In 2023, strikes in Hollywood highlighted the worries of writers and actors about the threat that AI could pose to their jobs.

Hastings also mentioned that AI could make certain aspects of entertainment production less expensive, particularly regarding special effects. However, he emphasized that anything in the emotional realm will not be as disrupted, as people will continue to pay to see real actors and recognizable faces.

He also raised the question of whether younger generations will be content to consume content on TikTok, at the expense of longer formats on Netflix. This inquiry reflects a broader concern regarding the evolution of content consumption habits.

In April 2026, it was announced that Reed Hastings would not seek re-election to the board of directors of Netflix, a company he co-founded in 1997. Hastings decided to focus on philanthropy and other activities. Ted Sarandos, one of Netflix's CEOs, supported Hastings' statements regarding AI and the power of human creativity. In a 2024 interview with the New York Times, Sarandos stated, "I don't believe an AI program will write a better script than a great writer, or will replace a great performance, or that we won't be able to tell the difference."