Key Points
- Prime Video has rolled out AI-powered Video Recaps in beta to summarize key plot points before new seasons.
- The feature uses generative AI to stitch clips, dialogue and narration into short visual refreshers.
- Video Recaps debut on select Prime Originals, with broader device support coming soon.
Amazon’s streaming platform Prime Video has introduced an AI-driven recap feature designed to help viewers catch up on key storylines before starting a new season of a particular show.
The tool, called Video Recaps, uses artificial intelligence to identify significant plot points in a series, and is rolling out as part of a test on select Prime Originals, including the show “Jack Reacher,” the company said this week.
The feature is intended to help viewers re-establish context before diving into new episodes, addressing a common challenge as content libraries expand and viewing gaps grow.
“Video Recaps marks a groundbreaking application of generative AI for streaming,” said Gérard Medioni, the Vice President of Technology at Prime Video. “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 will surface the recap options when a user navigates to a new season of a supported series. A recap button on the show’s detail page will route viewers to either available video recaps or X-Ray text summaries, allowing them to choose the format that best suits their viewing preferences.
Creating a video recap involves several steps: The system analyzes character arcs and plot developments to determine the moments most likely to resonate with viewers preparing for the next season. The AI then selects relevant clips and pairs them with dialogue excerpts, sound effects and music. Those elements are combined with a synthesized narration track to produce what Prime Video describes as a theatrical-quality summary.
The feature builds on last year’s introduction of X-Ray Recaps, a text-based AI tool that offers spoiler-free summaries of major plot points and cliffhangers.
