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How to use AI to find a good book, movie or podcast

You can type a few sentences into an AI chat tool, such as ChatGPT or Claude, telling it what you have enjoyed before, and it will suggest books, movies or podcasts that fit your taste. It works a bit like chatting with a well-read friend at the library, and it is free to try. You do not need any technical skill, just the ability to type a message.

Step 1: Open an AI chat tool

Go to the website or app of an AI assistant and look for the box where you type a message. Treat it like a text conversation. You can ask follow-up questions and change your mind as often as you like.

Step 2: Tell it what you already love

The more it knows about your taste, the better the suggestions. Name two or three things you have enjoyed, and say why.

Example prompt: "I loved the novel Where the Crawdads Sing and the TV show Call the Midwife. I like gentle stories with strong characters and a sense of place. Can you suggest five books I might enjoy?"

Step 3: Say what you do not want

Telling the AI what to avoid saves time. Mention things like violence, long books, scary content or anything else you would rather skip.

Example prompt: "Please suggest three movies for a quiet Sunday evening. No horror, nothing too violent, and under two hours long."

Step 4: Ask for podcasts by mood or topic

Podcasts are easy to describe by subject and length. Say how much time you have and what you are in the mood for.

Example prompt: "I walk for 30 minutes each morning. Suggest four podcasts about history or true stories, with friendly hosts and episodes of about half an hour."

Step 5: Ask follow-up questions

If a suggestion looks interesting, ask for more. If it misses the mark, say so and explain why. The AI does not mind.

Example prompt: "The second book sounds good. Can you tell me what it is about without spoiling the ending? Then suggest two more like it."

Step 6: Check before you borrow or buy

Look each title up at your local library, a bookshop or a streaming service. Read the description, the reviews and the length to be sure it suits you.

What to watch out for

  • AI can get things wrong. It sometimes invents a book, movie or podcast that does not exist, or mixes up the author or year. Always search for the title yourself before you buy or borrow.
  • It may not know recent releases. Its knowledge can be out of date, so new titles may be missing. Check a trusted source for what is new.
  • It does not know you perfectly. Suggestions are guesses based on what you typed. Your own judgement comes first.
  • Be careful with personal details. You do not need to share your name, address or financial information to get good recommendations.
  • Availability varies. A title may not be on the service you use, so check before you plan an evening around it.

A simple way to keep going

Keep a short list of favorites and paste it into a new chat whenever you want fresh ideas. Over time you will get better at describing what you like, and the suggestions will improve with it.

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