An Industrial-Scale Sequential Recommender for LinkedIn Feed Ranking

2026-02-12

Technology Category

• Machine Learning: Learning Preferences or Rankings
• Natural Language Processing: (Large) Language Models
• Data Mining & Knowledge Management: Conversational Systems for Recommendation & Retrieval

Application Category

• Search and Retrieval-Augmented AI: Web learning to rank, online learning, and counterfactual learning for ranking
• User Modeling, Personalization and Recommendation: Fairness-aware retrieval and ranking
• Graph Algorithms and Modeling for the Web: Foundation models and LLMs for Web-related graphs

Abstract

LinkedIn Feed enables professionals worldwide to discover relevant content, build connections, and share knowledge at scale. We present Feed Sequential Recommender (Feed-SR), a transformer-based sequential ranking model for LinkedIn Feed that replaces a DCNv2-based ranker and meets strict production constraints. We detail the modeling choices, training techniques, and serving optimizations that enable deployment at LinkedIn scale. Feed-SR is currently the primary member experience on LinkedIn's Feed and shows significant improvements in member engagement (+2.10% time spent) in online A/B tests compared to the existing production model. We also describe our deployment experience with alternative sequential and LLM-based ranking architectures and why Feed-SR provided the best combination of online metrics and production efficiency.

Problem

• sequential recommendation
• feed ranking
• industrial-scale
• member engagement
• production constraints

Innovation

• sequential recommendation
• transformer-based ranking
• industrial-scale deployment
• feed ranking
• online A/B testing