Netflix’s new AI tab recommends what to watch based on your mood

Netflix has begun rolling out its AI-powered Discover tab in the US. It suggests films and series based on viewers’ moods, preferences and available time. The first experiment in the new tab offers themes such as “something light,” “scare me,” “family movie night” and “a short watch.” For now, the feature is available on supported TVs to users who watch Netflix in English; the company plans to make it available to more viewers in the coming weeks.

Netflix tests an AI tab for finding films by mood

The selections will include short clips from films and series that match the chosen theme. After making an initial choice, viewers can refine their request until they find something suitable, or tap “Something else” to start over.

A feature for adjusting recommendations will appear alongside the “Play” and “My List” buttons. Viewers will be able to save suggestions they like and exclude films and series they do not want to see in future selections.

Netflix says AI Discover runs on a new intelligence layer. It responds to what users tell the platform in real time and continues to learn. The company says the launch is an attempt to make it easier to search a growing library and replace endless scrolling with more personalized recommendations.

The service already takes viewers’ preferences into account, for example through likes and adding films to “My List.” The new tab will expand the ways viewers can search and help them find content for different situations — from a quiet evening to family viewing or a few spare minutes.

Netflix describes AI Discover as an experimental space for testing new approaches to search. Based on feedback, the company will decide which features to keep or improve before potentially bringing them to the main version of the service.

Users with access to the new feature will see a Discover button in the top bar of the TV app, marked with a red gem icon and the label “New.”

Dataist's take

Netflix is testing whether mood-based recommendations can make it easier to search a large library than ordinary scrolling. For now, the experiment is limited to English-speaking users in the US on supported TVs, and whether the features move to the main interface will depend on viewer feedback.