In its latest use of generative AI, Amazon has unveiled a Video Recaps service to visually sum up previous seasons for Prime Video viewers of popular shows like Reacher and The Girlfriend.
The AI-powered tool, now in its beta testing phase on select Prime original series, uses narration, dialogue and music to recall earlier seasons of a TV series. Amazon is betting AI can identify key plot points for a series to be synchronized with a voiceover narration and dialogue snippets.
The goal is allowing fans to jump back in after possibly a long layoff between seasons and cliffhangers with a quick visual recap of characters and potentially complicated storylines. Prime Video is already using AI to suggest search topics to find your next movie or series to binge, or to dub content for global viewing.
The streaming platform is also using AI to offer recaps of live events, including sports, for viewers tuning in after a telecast has started. Amazon’s streaming platform last year introduced AI-powered X-Ray Recaps, which offer text summaries of key cliffhangers, character-driven plot points and other spoiler-free series intelligence.
“Video Recaps marks a groundbreaking application of generative AI for streaming,” Gérard Medioni, vp of technology at Prime Video, said in a statement. “This first-of-its-kind feature demonstrates Prime Video’s ongoing commitment to innovation and making the viewing experience more accessible and enjoyable for customers.”