"Netflix to Introduce AI-Generated Ads in 2026"

Netflix has announced that it will introduce AI-generated advertising, including pause ads, within its programming on the ad-supported tier starting in 2026. This development, first reported by Media Play News, leaves many details undisclosed, such as how the ads will target viewers. It remains unclear whether these ads will be tailored based on individual watch histories or the content being viewed at the time. As of now, the specifics on the backend operations and presentation of these ads are largely unknown, but the implementation is on the horizon.

During a recent Upfront for advertisers event in New York City, Amy Reinhard, President of Advertising at Netflix, highlighted the company's unique strengths. "Either they have great technology, or they have great entertainment," she stated. "Our superpower has always been the fact that we have both." Reinhard emphasized that Netflix's ad-supported tier subscribers are highly engaged, watching an average of 41 hours of content per month. According to calculations by Kotaku, this translates to approximately three hours of ads per month for these viewers, which is significant even without AI enhancement.

Reinhard also noted that, when compared to competitors, viewer attention on Netflix starts higher and remains elevated throughout their viewing experience. Impressively, she pointed out that members pay as much attention to mid-roll ads as they do to the shows and movies themselves. While Netflix has not yet provided an official implementation date for these AI-generated ads, the shift is set to occur in 2026.