Netflix has started rolling out a new tab that helps viewers pick something to watch based on their mood, rather than trawling through rows of genres.
The feature, called AI Discover, offers ready-made themes such as "something light", "scare me", "family movie night" and "quick watches".
Viewers can then narrow things down with more specific themes, or hit "something different" to start again.
Netflix said the tab runs on a new AI system that responds to choices as they are made and learns over time.
The company described it as a "test kitchen" for ideas that could later appear in the main app.
In a blog post, Netflix said it had spent years refining recommendations based on what viewers give a thumbs up or add to their list.
AI Discover, it said, was simply a new way to explore.
Eighteen months in the making
The launch follows about 18 months of experiments with chattier ways to find shows.
In April 2025, Netflix tested a mood-based search built on OpenAI technology for some iPhone users in Australia and New Zealand.
A month later, a mobile trial let viewers type requests such as wanting something "scary, but also funny".
AI Discover drops the open text box for now, sticking to pre-set themes instead.
Each title also carries a "Tune Your Recommendations" button alongside "Play" and "My List", so viewers can steer future suggestions.
The tab is available to a limited group of US members watching in English on supported TVs.
It appears as a red gem icon with a "New" label in the top menu, and Netflix plans to open it up to more users in the coming weeks.
