🔍 Will Netflix New AI Search Change How We Watch?
What are you in the mood to watch?
Hey streamers! Today we’re testing Netflix new way to search 🔍👇
In early May, Netflix announced new features for its iOS app, including a new way to search with generative AI.
The idea? Let users find shows and movies by typing natural, conversational phrases like “I want something funny and upbeat.”
But is this kind of AI search just a nice-to-have, or a must-have for streaming services?
First, I’ll walk you through the main types of search available on streaming platforms. Then, we’ll take a closer look at Netflix beta search 👇
Read on to learn about:
How we search today: the main ways to find shows and movies on streaming platforms
Netflix new AI search: what it is, how it works, and what’s available in the beta
So What? Could AI-powered search be the next big thing in streaming?
How we search today
Streaming services have been trying to make it easier for us to find something to watch for years. As their libraries keep getting bigger, they’ve had to come up with new ways to help people search the right show or movie.
Here are the main types of search you’ll see today:
Basic search: Type in a title, actor, or director and get matching results. Some services add autocomplete to suggest titles, genres, or people as you type.
Advanced filters: Narrow results by genre, release year, language, content type, or maturity rating.
People search: Browse everything featuring a specific actor, director, or even a composer or writer.
Contextual search: Find content by mood or theme (feel-good, based on a true story) or by occasion (Ramadan specials, Halloween movies).
Viewing-context search: Filter by duration, availability, or “expiring soon.”
Cross-platform search: Search across multiple apps at once (e.g., Apple TV, Google TV, Roku).
The next evolution is coming: AI-powered search.
Instead of just matching keywords, AI can: