Netflix is testing AI-powered search to recommend shows based on your mood

Netflix is rolling out a smarter way to find what to watch by testing an AI-powered search feature. This new AI tool uses OpenAI tech to recommend TV shows and movies based on ultra-specific prompts, including your mood.

The new Netflix AI search tool is currently live on iOS in Australia and New Zealand. Netflix says it plans to expand the test to more regions, including the US, in the near future.

This means that users are no longer limited to searching by actor names or genre tags. For example, you can type something like “dark comedies with a hopeful ending” or “shows that feel like a lazy Sunday,” and the tool will comb through Netflix’s catalog to match the vibe. It’s a step up from the usual algorithm, and it’s built using OpenAI’s technology.

Netflix already uses machine learning to fine-tune recommendations based on what you’ve watched. This is just a more conversational, flexible version of that—meant to feel more intuitive than browsing endless rows of categories.

Internally, the company’s been exploring AI for a while—whether it’s optimizing workflows or improving production pipelines. But co-CEO Ted Sarandos says it won’t replace creative roles like screenwriters and actors. It’s a tool, not a takeover.

So far, this new Netflix AI search is limited in scope. It’s only on iOS and still in early testing. But if it sticks, it could make the “what to watch” dilemma a lot less frustrating.

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