Netflix Introduces Live Voting for Shows, Announces AI Features and Redesigned Mobile App

Netflix has announced major upgrades to its platform, including real-time live voting for shows, new AI-powered features, and a redesigned mobile app. The updates aim to make live events more interactive, expand short-form and video podcast content, and improve user experience while strengthening Netflix’s position as the world’s largest streaming platform.

Netflix Announces Major Platform Changes

Streaming giant Netflix has taken a big step toward making live content more interactive. The company has introduced a live voting feature, allowing viewers to influence show outcomes in real time. Alongside this, Netflix has also announced new AI-driven tools and a redesigned mobile app focused on short-form and vertical video content.

Live Voting to Transform the Viewing Experience

Netflix confirmed that the live voting feature was first used in the United States during the live talent show “Star Search.” With this feature, viewers can vote in real time to decide which contestant advances or gets eliminated.

Unlike traditional television voting systems—where results are revealed days later—Netflix displays instant voting results, making live shows more engaging and dynamic.

Where and How Viewers Can Vote

Live voting is available only to users watching the show live. If a viewer rewinds the stream, the voting option becomes inactive. Netflix has clarified that live voting is not supported on the website.

Viewers can participate through:

• Smart TVs

• Streaming devices

• Mobile apps

During Star Search, audiences can rate performances from one to five stars, and in selected rounds, they can also directly choose the winner.

Redesigned Mobile App and Focus on Short Videos

Netflix is set to redesign its mobile app to support long-term business growth. Speaking during the Q4 earnings call, Co-CEO Greg Peters stated that the new app is being developed to support Netflix’s expansion over the next decade.

The company is also strengthening its vertical video feature, “Moments.” Netflix plans to expand this feature further, potentially adding video podcasts, allowing users to discover content more easily in a short-form format.

New AI Features and Strong Revenue Growth

Netflix confirmed the rollout of two new AI-powered features in 2025:

1. AI-based subtitle localisation, ensuring that meaning and emotional context remain accurate across different languages.

2. AI-powered recommendation tools, designed to suggest content based on user preferences more precisely.

Financially, Netflix reported Q4 2025 revenue of $12.05 billion, marking a 17.6% year-on-year increase.

Netflix Enters the Video Podcast Space

Netflix has officially entered the video podcast segment, a space traditionally dominated by YouTube. The company recently launched its first original video podcasts, featuring well-known personalities.

Netflix has also partnered with major podcast platforms to bring existing video podcast content onto its platform. The vertical video feed will make discovering this content easier for users.

Netflix clarified that it does not aim to become a social media app. According to the company, these changes are focused on experimentation and improving the user experience, not imitation.

Netflix Revenue and Subscriber Milestones

Netflix shared strong financial performance figures:

• Total revenue in 2025: $45.2 billion

• Advertising revenue: Over $1.5 billion

• Paid subscribers: More than 325 million globally in Q4

With this, Netflix continues to maintain its position as the world’s largest streaming platform.