It seems we’ve moved beyond the days of “and that’s what you missed on Glee.” On Wednesday, Amazon revealed that Prime Video will introduce AI-powered “Video Recaps” designed to help viewers get up to speed between show seasons.
Amazon explains that this new feature “leverages generative AI to produce cinematic-quality season summaries, complete with coordinated narration, dialogue, and music.” The beta version will start rolling out on Wednesday for select Prime Originals, such as “Fallout,” “Tom Clancy’s Jack Ryan,” and “Upload.”
Last year, Prime Video introduced a similar AI-driven tool called “X-Ray Recaps,” which provides summaries for entire seasons, individual episodes, or episode segments. At launch, Amazon noted that its AI model included safeguards to prevent these recaps from unintentionally revealing spoilers.
Image Credits:Prime Video
People have grown familiar with AI-generated text summaries, whether from their phones condensing messages or encountering (sometimes unwelcome) AI overviews in Google search results. However, these video recaps represent a new direction, which could feel more intrusive during viewing than text summaries—or perhaps they’ll be welcomed by those who can’t recall the plot of “Bosch.”
Other streaming platforms are also investigating ways to incorporate generative AI into their offerings.
For instance, YouTube TV features a “Key Plays” function that allows viewers to catch up on sports events if they tune in after the game has started. Although the system isn’t flawless (it mainly identifies key offensive moments in baseball), this feature contributed to YouTube TV earning its first Technical Emmy Award.
Netflix, on the other hand, is applying generative AI behind the scenes in its production processes.
Earlier this year, Netflix announced it had used generative AI for the first time in final footage for the Argentine series “The Eternaut,” creating a building collapse scene. Subsequently, “Happy Gilmore 2” utilized generative AI to de-age characters in the opening, and the team behind “Billionaires’ Bunker” employed it during pre-production to visualize costumes and set designs.
AI’s growing role in filmmaking has stirred significant discussion, with many artists concerned that these technologies—sometimes trained on their creations without consent—could threaten their jobs. Still, some believe that tools which automate repetitive tasks in animation or visual effects, like Wonder Dynamics, could actually broaden creative possibilities for artists.
