I asked Chat GPT what to watch across 6 streaming apps — and it actually nailed it | Tech Radar

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I asked Chat GPT what to watch across 6 streaming apps — and it actually nailed it

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There is a particular kind of paralysis that sets in when you open a streaming video app after a long day. Rows of glossy thumbnails scroll past, but feeling confident enough to commit is tough.

So, I decided to outsource the problem to Chat GPT. AI is supposed to be good at pattern recognition, so surely it could work out some good options for something to watch in the realm of science fiction among my many streaming services?

I told the AI, "I’ve got Disney+, Netflix, Prime Video, Paramount Plus, HBO Max, and Apple TV. I like science fiction and action. What should I watch tonight?”

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The chatbot quickly came back with a couple of follow-up questions about the kind of content I might want to watch in terms of TV or movies, comedy or drama, and so on. It then offered a short list of recommendations, each accompanied by a few lines explaining why it thought I would like them.

The Creator, on Disney+. (Image credit: 20th Century Studios)

“Based on your mix of sci-fi and action, and assuming you want something engaging from the start, here are a few strong picks across your platforms,” it began,

The first suggestion was The Creator on Disney+. Chat GPT described the film as “a visually rich sci-fi action film with a surprisingly emotional core, blending large-scale warfare with intimate character moments.” It added that if I enjoyed “thoughtful sci-fi that still delivers spectacle,” this would be a strong choice for a single evening.

The next recommendation shifted tone slightly. “On Netflix, you might like ‘3 Body Problem,’” Chat GPT wrote. “It leans more into high-concept science fiction, with big ideas about physics and humanity’s place in the universe, but it keeps enough momentum to stay engaging.”

It also included a small warning that, “It can feel dense early on, but it rewards patience.”

That turned out to be a precise read. The opening episode asked for a level of attention that I do not always have at the end of the day. Still, there was a confidence in how it unfolded that made me stick with it.

Outer Range, on Prime Video. (Image credit: Amazon Studios)

The third suggestion came from Prime Video, and it was at TV series I was unfamiliar with. “Try ‘Outer Range,’” Chat GPT wrote. “It mixes a grounded, almost western-style setting with a strange, slowly unfolding sci-fi mystery. It’s more about mood and tension than constant action.”

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It was not the most obvious pick for someone who had asked for action, but it was perhaps the most tailored. Finally, Chat GPT pointed me toward Apple TV with a more familiar name. “If you haven’t seen ‘Foundation,’ it’s worth a look,” it wrote. “It offers large-scale world-building and political intrigue, with enough action to keep things moving, even if it occasionally prioritizes spectacle over clarity.”

I have seen Foundation and very much enjoy it, so the AI got that one right.

What made this experiment stand out was not just that the recommendations were good. It was how they were framed. Each suggestion came with a short explanation that mapped directly onto the way I think about what I want to watch. There was an understanding of tone, pacing, and thematic weight that most streaming interfaces fail to capture.

The endless scroll had been replaced by something closer to a conversation, even if it was one-sided. For once, picking something to watch felt less like a chore and more like a shortlist to look forward to.

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Eric Hal Schwartz is a freelance writer for Tech Radar with more than 15 years of experience covering the intersection of the world and technology. For the last five years, he served as head writer for Voicebot.ai and was on the leading edge of reporting on generative AI and large language models. He's since become an expert on the products of generative AI models, such as Open AI’s Chat GPT, Anthropic’s Claude, Google Gemini, and every other synthetic media tool. His experience runs the gamut of media, including print, digital, broadcast, and live events. Now, he's continuing to tell the stories people want and need to hear about the rapidly evolving AI space and its impact on their lives. Eric is based in New York City.

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Key Takeaways

• I asked Chat GPT what to watch across 6 streaming apps — and it actually nailed it

• When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission

• There is a particular kind of paralysis that sets in when you open a streaming video app after a long day

• So, I decided to outsource the problem to Chat GPT

• I told the AI, "I’ve got Disney+, Netflix, Prime Video, Paramount Plus, HBO Max, and Apple TV