Mar 25, 2026 1:36pm PT

Reed Hastings Says Netflix’s Biggest Risk Is if YouTube Content ‘Boosted With AI’ Becomes ‘Cool and Sexy’

He says exiting as CEO was like being 'cast out' of a marriage, reveals he was 'stress drinking' as head of streaming giant

Todd Spangler

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Todd Spangler

NY Digital Editor

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Reed Hastings, co-founder and former CEO of Netflix, has gone into semi-retirement — and he now spends much of his time attending to the Utah ski resort he bought in 2023.

But he continues to serve on Netflix’s board as chairman of Netflix, and in a new interview, the exec spoke about what he sees as the biggest risk facing Netflix: if AI-generated free content on platforms like YouTube becomes compelling enough to drive people to stop paying for Netflix.

Reed Hastings Says Netflix's Biggest Risk Is if YouTube Content 'Boosted With AI' Becomes 'Cool and Sexy'