Amazon recently introduced a smart feature, X-Ray Recaps, to automatically deliver AI-generated video summaries for some Prime Originals. Beginning Wednesday, we’ll be gradually introducing this fantastic new functionality in beta. No more having to binge watch a whole season just to watch the last two episodes of a current season!
We love using X-Ray Recaps to recap entire seasons, single episodes, or even particular scenes of new shows like “Fallout,” “Tom Clancy’s Jack Ryan,” and “Upload.” This new feature utilizes generative AI technology to develop theatre-quality recaps. It’s blending together great narration, amazing dialogue, and music that really sets the stage for a wonderful experience.
In order to prevent the AI model from accidentally giving away spoilers, Amazon has taken extensive precautions. As the company explains, this part is key to keeping viewers watching and using their ad time.
Here’s what we know about how Amazon is moving into generative AI. It follows moves from other giant streaming platforms such as Netflix, who have already begun to welcome AI technology into their content creating process. For instance, Netflix utilized generative AI in the final footage of the Argentine show “The Eternaut,” creating a dramatic scene featuring a building collapse. In much the same vein, our new production “Happy Gilmore 2Billionaires’ Bunker” used generative AI in pre-production to preview costume and set designs.
For audiences that have a hard time recalling key plot points, adding video summaries can significantly improve their experience. To others, these video summaries may feel even more invasive than a text summary. As Amazon introduces further refinements to this new feature, the balance between innovation and user experience will be important.
Amanda Silberling, a senior writer at TechCrunch covering the intersection of technology and culture, noted the growing trend of using generative AI in media. Silberling received a B.A. in English from the University of Pennsylvania. Her time as a Princeton in Asia Fellow in Laos provides her with unique perspectives on how technology is revolutionizing the way we tell stories today.