A new Apple TV 4K is rumored to launch this fall with AI support, and Netflix’s latest feature offers a useful example of how AI could benefit the Apple TV.
Apple Intelligence is rumored to come to Apple TV 4K next, and the new Netflix feature shows its potential
Apple is rumored to be preparing new Apple TV 4K hardware. It was originally planned for late 2025, but was reportedly delayed until Siri AI upgrades arrive in iOS 27 this fall.
An expected upgrade in the Apple TV 4K is a more powerful chip to enable support for Apple Intelligence.
Apple Intelligence is currently available on iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple Watch and Vision Pro, but not on Apple TV 4K.
And a new Netflix feature—AI-powered voice search-offers an example of what Apple Intelligence could enable on the Apple TV 4K.
Netflix tests AI-powered voice search feature
Janko Roettgers is one of the few Netflix users who currently has advanced access to AI-powered voice search.
And after the first tests, he describes it as “remarkable”. Roettgers writes to The edge:
Playing with this feature for a few days, I was impressed by its ability to find relevant choices for a wide variety of requests, from the obvious (“80s date night movies” served The breakfast club) to the most specific (“I like Brian Eno’s music, what should I watch” resulted in a suggestion of Summary: The art of design).
I tested the feature more than people typically would during everyday use, but it was able to make solid recommendations in response to unusual requests. Honestly, I thought asking for “funny kids’ TV shows about death” wouldn’t get me any results. Instead, he served A series of unfortunate events And Raising Dionboth of which were relevant.
“I drank too much coffee today, what should I watch?” ” led Netflix to suggest a “casual” comedy special about Sheng Wang and the Headspace guide to sleep. When I simply said “hurt people, hurt people”, the Netflix app responded with “Hurt people hurt people. Here are some of the stories behind it”, followed by recommendations for 13 reasons why And It’s okay to not be well.
These examples show how much better TV and film discovery can be when AI is involved.
If Apple’s new Siri in iOS 27 can bring similar functionality to Apple TV 4K and tvOS 27, it will be a major upgrade over the current search feature.
And with the Apple TV app’s integration with third-party streaming services, Siri’s version could be even better than Netflix’s, since it will apply not only to Apple TV content but also to HBO Max, Disney+, Peacock, and more.
The wait for the new Apple TV 4K has been long, but hopefully we’ll only be a few months away now.
What kinds of AI features do you want to see in the new Apple TV 4K and tvOS 27? Let us know in the comments.
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