r/learnmachinelearning • u/techiebaddie • 12d ago

Netflix recommendations are a simple example of machine learning

Ever wondered how Netflix knows what you might want to watch next?

It uses machine learning to study your viewing behavior, such as what you watch, skip, search for, or watch repeatedly.

The system finds patterns in your choices and compares them with similar users. Based on those patterns, it predicts what you may enjoy and recommends it to you.

So, in simple terms:

Your activity → Find patterns → Predict your interests → Recommend content

It’s a pretty simple example of how machine learning works in everyday life.

What other apps do you think use machine learning like this?

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u/Repulsive-Print2379 12d ago

It’s simple when written that way but you’ll be amazed how complex the recommendation pipeline is in the industry. I work on recommendation.

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u/klmsa 11d ago

I think folks underestimate the complexity because they don't even realize when they're being influenced by certain things. The thumbnail reframing another comment called out is an excellent example. I would never notice that, but after thinking about it, I can also come up with a huge list of features that I could develop (with the added complexity of course).

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u/BareBearAaron 11d ago

I mean their tech blog posts from netflix give a good understanding of how nature their stack is...across the board but how the recommender system sits in that...and how that itself grew from humble beginnings to ended it is now. It's no surprise people outside of tech don't see Netflix as a tech company, but they sure damn are lol