Streamlining Entertainment Recommendations with Trakt.tv and AI

In today’s world of endless streaming options, keeping track of what you watch across multiple platforms can be a daunting task. With so many services offering unique content, there’s often no unified way to get personalized recommendations for TV shows and movies. That’s where Trakt.tv comes in—a powerful tool to track your viewing habits and enhance your media experience.

The Problem: Fragmented Recommendations

Streaming services like Netflix, Hulu, and Disney+ each have their own recommendation algorithms, but these systems are siloed. They don’t communicate with each other, leaving you with fragmented suggestions that don’t reflect your overall preferences. For someone who consumes media from multiple platforms, this lack of cohesion can be frustrating.

The Solution: Trakt.tv and AI

I’ve been using Trakt.tv to track all the shows and movies I watch. Trakt is a platform that integrates with various streaming services, allowing you to log your viewing history, rate content, and even write reviews. One of its standout features is the ability to export your ratings into a JSON file. This feature has been a game-changer for me.

Here’s how I’ve taken my media tracking to the next level:

  1. Tracking and Reviewing: After watching a show or movie, I log it into Trakt and give it a rating. This creates a comprehensive record of my viewing habits.

  2. Exporting Data: Trakt allows premium users to export their ratings and reviews into a JSON file. This file contains all the data about what I’ve watched and how I’ve rated it.

  3. AI-Powered Recommendations: I upload this JSON file to an AI model, such as ChatGPT or DeepSeek, and ask it to recommend shows or movies based on my preferences. The AI analyzes my viewing history and provides tailored suggestions that align with my tastes.

  4. Custom Requests: Sometimes, I’m in the mood for something specific—like a show or movie with an ’80s vibe. I can ask the AI to filter recommendations based on a particular decade, genre, or theme. This level of customization has been incredibly effective in finding content that resonates with me.

Why Not Just Use Trakt’s Recommendations?

While Trakt does offer its own recommendation engine, I’ve found it to be somewhat lacking compared to the personalized insights I get from my AI model. Trakt’s algorithm is useful, but it doesn’t offer the same level of depth or flexibility. For instance, it doesn’t allow for nuanced requests like “recommend me a sci-fi movie from the 1980s.”

The Value of Trakt Premium

I do pay for Trakt’s premium service, which unlocks additional features like data exports, advanced filtering, and an ad-free experience. While the built-in recommendations aren’t perfect, the ability to export my data makes the premium subscription worthwhile.

Final Thoughts

By combining Trakt.tv with AI, I’ve created a seamless system for discovering new content that aligns with my tastes. This approach bridges the gap between fragmented streaming services and provides a unified, personalized recommendation experience. If you’re someone who juggles multiple streaming platforms and craves better recommendations, I highly recommend giving this method a try.

With tools like Trakt and AI at your disposal, the days of endlessly scrolling through mediocre suggestions are over. Happy watching!