Netflix is “simplifying” its user interface with a more “intuitive” design—all the evidence we need to suggest the current recommendations model is creaking under its own weight. To us, this smells like a smokescreen to facilitate Netflix’s evolving cost-optimized content strategy, by quietly trimming licensed and long-tail content in favor of fat-tail crowd-pleasers—namely Netflix Originals and high-profile Hollywood buys. With the latest homepage refresh, Netflix claims new features will better reflect its expanding entertainment remit—gaming, live events, and interactive experiences—while creating a “clean and modern” UI that prioritizes easier discovery. Buried beneath the slick update and new beta features like generative AI-powered search and TikTok-style vertical feed, Netflix’s changes to its recommender model are paving the way for a slimmed-down…