Netflix on TV makes it easier to fumble less and chill more with voice search test

Source: Android Authority

TL;DR

• Netflix is reportedly testing a new AI‑powered voice search feature in the US.
• Users can use natural‑language queries to find relevant shows and movies on the platform.
• The feature is currently only available to a small set of users.

Netflix Tests AI‑Powered Voice Search on Smart TV App

If you’ve had just about enough of using a TV remote to type and search for things to watch, Netflix has some good news. The company is reportedly testing a new AI‑based voice search within its smart TV app that lets users find things to watch using natural‑language queries.

According to a report from The Verge (link), the feature isn’t widely available and is being tested with a limited group of users in the US. Even among those users, it is reportedly only accessible on a subset of their devices.

How the Feature Works

• Users with access can press the Netflix button on their remote to activate the AI voice search.
• Netflix offers suggested searches alongside an “Ask” button, which leads to the AI‑powered search.
• Users speak their query, and the system returns relevant content.

Performance and Limitations

• Voice search performs well with most queries and can surface relevant TV shows and movies even for difficult searches.
  • Example: the query “fun kids TV shows about death” returned A Series of Unfortunate Events, which fits that description.
• The system deliberately avoids responding to certain kinds of queries, including those with racist overtones.

Current Shortcomings

• The feature is still in beta and lacks some key capabilities:
  • It cannot surface shows based on a user’s watch history.
  • It does not use personalized recommendations, which is surprising given Netflix’s strong recommendation engine.

Outlook

It’s unclear when Netflix will roll out this upgrade to everyone, but the reported accuracy suggests it’s worth waiting for.