DiscoverThe VergecastIn search of the perfect movie recommendation
In search of the perfect movie recommendation

In search of the perfect movie recommendation

Update: 2024-07-281
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Digest

This podcast delves into the complexities of movie recommendations in the age of streaming services, exploring the limitations of current systems and the potential of AI to revolutionize the process. The episode begins by discussing the challenges of current recommendation systems, which rely heavily on metadata, watch data, and existing content libraries. These systems often struggle to understand individual preferences beyond simple genre or star power and fail to capture intangible elements that contribute to enjoyment. The episode then introduces Google's Gemini 1.5 AI model, which boasts a large context window capable of processing entire movies. This breakthrough allows AI to analyze movies at a deeper level, potentially leading to more accurate and personalized recommendations. The episode also introduces Real Good, a company that provides data about movies and shows, including where they can be streamed. Real Good is experimenting with AI to analyze content and predict user preferences, offering a more nuanced approach to recommendations. The podcast emphasizes the significance of mood in movie recommendations, suggesting that understanding the mood of both the content and the viewer is crucial for providing truly personalized recommendations. It also introduces Movie Vendors, an AI-powered movie recommendation service that allows users to search for specific movies based on vague descriptions or request recommendations based on desired elements. The episode concludes with practical tips for using AI tools to find movies to watch, suggesting using "Show Me Stuff Like" options, specifying desired vibes, and filtering for underrated titles to discover hidden gems. The ultimate recommendation recommendation is to watch as much content as possible on as few streaming services as possible, allowing for a more robust watch history and better personalized recommendations from the platform.

Outlines

00:00:31
AI in the Real World: The Problem of Movie Recommendations

This episode explores the challenges of movie recommendations in the age of streaming services. It discusses the limitations of current recommendation systems based on metadata, watch data, and existing content libraries. The episode highlights the potential of AI to address these limitations by analyzing deeper content traits and understanding user preferences beyond simple genre or star power.

00:16:40
AI Breakthroughs and Movie Understanding

This episode introduces Google's Gemini 1.5 AI model, which boasts a large context window capable of processing entire movies. This breakthrough allows AI to analyze movies at a deeper level, potentially leading to more accurate and personalized recommendations. It also discusses Real Good, a company that provides data about movies and shows, including where they can be streamed. Real Good is experimenting with AI to analyze content and predict user preferences, offering a more nuanced approach to recommendations.

00:19:49
Defining "Good" Recommendations

This episode delves into the complexities of defining "good" recommendations. It explores the limitations of current systems in understanding individual preferences and the challenges of capturing intangible elements that contribute to enjoyment.

00:26:14
The Importance of Mood in Recommendations

This episode emphasizes the significance of mood in movie recommendations. It suggests that understanding the mood of both the content and the viewer is crucial for providing truly personalized recommendations.

00:31:46
AI Tools for Finding Great Movies

This episode shares practical tips for using AI tools to find movies to watch. It suggests using "Show Me Stuff Like" options, specifying desired vibes, and filtering for underrated titles to discover hidden gems. It also concludes with the ultimate recommendation recommendation: watch as much content as possible on as few streaming services as possible. This allows for a more robust watch history and better personalized recommendations from the platform.

Keywords

Gemini 1.5


Gemini 1.5 is a large language model (LLM) developed by Google, known for its large context window, allowing it to process vast amounts of information, including entire movies.

Movie Vendors


Movie Vendors is an AI-powered movie recommendation service that allows users to search for specific movies based on vague descriptions or request recommendations based on desired elements.

Real Good


Real Good is a company that provides data about movies and shows, including where they can be streamed. It is also developing AI-powered tools to analyze content and predict user preferences.

Metadata


Metadata refers to information about a movie or show, such as its title, cast, director, and genre. It is often used in recommendation systems to suggest similar content.

Watch Data


Watch data refers to information about how users interact with streaming services, such as the shows they watch, how long they watch them, and when they watch them. It is a valuable source of information for personalized recommendations.

Content Traits


Content traits refer to deeper information about a movie or show beyond basic metadata, such as its mood, pace, and overall tone. AI models can analyze these traits to provide more nuanced recommendations.

Q&A

  • What are the limitations of current movie recommendation systems?

    Current systems rely heavily on metadata, watch data, and existing content libraries, which can lead to limited and predictable recommendations. They struggle to understand individual preferences beyond simple genre or star power and often fail to capture intangible elements that contribute to enjoyment.

  • How can AI improve movie recommendations?

    AI can analyze content at a deeper level, understanding content traits and user preferences beyond simple metadata. It can also synthesize information from various sources, such as reviews, tweets, and social media posts, to provide more personalized and insightful recommendations.

  • What is the significance of mood in movie recommendations?

    Understanding the mood of both the content and the viewer is crucial for providing truly personalized recommendations. AI models can analyze the mood of a movie or show and match it to the viewer's current mood, ensuring a more enjoyable viewing experience.

  • What is the best recommendation recommendation?

    The best recommendation recommendation is to watch as much content as possible on as few streaming services as possible. This allows for a more robust watch history and better personalized recommendations from the platform.

Show Notes

On this episode of The Vergecast, we look at why TV and movie recommendations are so complicated, and whether AI might be able to make them better. If Spotify can build infinite playlists of music you’ll like, and YouTube and TikTok always seem to have the perfect thing ready to go, why can’t Netflix or Hulu or Max seem to get it right?

If you want to know more about everything we discuss in this episode, here are a few links to get you started:


Email us at vergecast@theverge.com or call us at 866-VERGE11, we love hearing from you.

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In search of the perfect movie recommendation

In search of the perfect movie recommendation

The Verge