I suppose the days of “and that’s what you missed on Glee” are over. AI-generated “Video Recaps” will be added to Amazon’s Prime Video streamer on Wednesday to assist users in catching up between seasons of series.
The function “uses generative AI to create theatrical-quality season recaps with synchronized narration, dialogue, and music,” according to Amazon. On Wednesday, it will start to roll out in beta for a few Prime Originals, including “Fallout,” “Tom Clancy’s Jack Ryan,” and “Upload.”
Last year, Prime Video introduced “X-Ray Recaps,” a similar AI-powered tool that summarizes entire seasons, episodes, or segments of episodes. Amazon claimed at the time that their AI model had safeguards in place to ensure that these recaps don’t unintentionally reveal spoilers.
Since they probably see these types of text-based AI summaries when their phones summarize texts or when they get a (unwanted) AI summary at the top of their Google results, consumers have grown accustomed to them. However, these video explanations stray into more recent area, which might seem more intrusive to viewers than text summaries; alternatively, perhaps those who are unaware of what transpired on “Bosch” will enjoy them.
Competitors of Prime Video are also investigating ways to include generative AI into their offerings.
For instance, YouTube TV offers a feature called “Key Plays” that allows users to catch up on sporting events if they begin viewing while the game is underway. The tool helped YouTube TV earn its first Technical Emmy Award, despite the fact that it is somewhat flawed (its algorithm appears to be limited to identifying important offensive plays in baseball).
In the meantime, Netflix is utilizing generative AI in its production division.
Earlier this year, Netflix claimed to have created a sequence of a building collapsing in the Argentine series “The Eternaut” using generative AI for the first time in the final film. The makers of “Billionaires’ Bunker” then employed generative AI in pre-production to visualize the set and clothing design, while “Happy Gilmore 2” used it to make characters appear younger in the movie’s opening sequence.
There has been much discussion over the use of AI in the film business because artists fear that these technologies, which are occasionally trained on their work without their consent, could jeopardize their livelihoods. However, some contend that techniques like Wonder Dynamics, which expedite laborious tasks like special effects or animation, could increase artists’ ability to produce.