Recaps for Prime Video: Amazon AI summarizes series progress

Amazon has introduced a new AI function for its Prime Video streaming service: So-called "X-Ray Recaps" are designed to make it easier for users to tune back into a series after a long break. The AI-supported recaps summarize all the important events that have happened up to the last point watched.

This even works within individual episodes, Amazon writes in a blog entry. The summaries are played out as short texts, which, according to Amazon, should be concise and to the point. They have also ensured that the AI recaps do not reveal any spoilers for future events.

Recaps still with restrictions

The recaps can be accessed on the overview page of a series. Alternatively, you can access the recap function via Amazon's existing X-Ray overlay.

There you have the option of summarizing the past season, the past episode or the exact events up to the last point seen. X-Ray recaps are based on Amazon's AI development platform Bedrock. According to Amazon, the AI analyzes video clips in conjunction with subtitles and spoken dialogue to generate detailed descriptions of key events.

The function is only available to a very limited extent for the time being –, namely exclusively on Fire TV models in the USA. Amazon plans to support other devices at the end of the year, according to the blog entry. In addition, the AI summaries apparently only work with series that have been specially set up for this purpose.

As of now, this includes Amazon MGM Studios' own productions such as "The Wheel of Time" and "The Boys". It is not clear from the blog entry how comprehensively the AI summaries will also work with other content in the future and whether an international launch is planned.

(dahe)