Prime Video already offers AI-generated text recaps of TV shows. Now Amazon is using AI to add sight, sound and motion to the mix.
The company on Wednesday is launching Video Recaps on Prime Video, which Amazon says provide “comprehensive season recaps” to bring viewers up to speed on select shows. The Video Recaps feature uses AI to summarize a show’s key plot points with “theatrical-quality video” that includes synchronized voice narration, snippets of dialogue and music.
The feature is available now in beta for select English-language Prime original series in the U.S., including “Fallout,” “Tom Clancy’s Jack Ryan,” “Upload,” “Bosch” and “The Rig.” Prime Video customers can access Video Recaps initially on connected-TV devices, with additional devices supporting the feature slated to roll out in the coming months.
One year ago, Prime Video released X-Ray Recaps, an AI-powered feature that creates “spoiler-free” text summaries of key cliffhangers, character-driven plot points, and other important details. X-Ray Recaps only summarize up to the point where a viewer last watched a series, designed to prevent you from learning spoiler plot points.
“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.”
Prime Video’s Video Recaps are available for supported series via a “Recap” button on the show’s detail page when a customer navigates to the next season. Once selected, customers will see any available recaps for that title, either video- or text-based, and from there they can select their preferred recap option.
According to Amazon, creating each video recap is a multistep process. Using generative AI, the Video Recaps feature analyzes a season’s key plot points and character arcs to “deeply understand the most pivotal moments that will resonate with viewers as they enter the next season,” per the company. AI then finds the most compelling video clips and pairs them with audio effects, dialog and music. Those are stitched together with an AI-generated voiceover narration.