- Prime Video is launching a new ‘Video Summary’ feature in beta for select shows
- The new generative AI feature is based on Amazon’s Bedrock model for stitching together show scenes.
- The test marks another AI-powered feature for Prime Video, but for now it will only launch in the US.
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We’ve already seen some of the best streaming services integrate AI-powered features and functions into the way they recommend content, and even into writing descriptions for shows, movies, and documentaries.
Now, however, Prime Video has turned its attention to using AI to help us catch up between seasons, at least in the United States, for select original content in a beta test that’s rolling out now. In 2024, Amazon dived into AI-generated content for the first time with compact, spoiler-free descriptions of shows’ plot points; Now, however, it will use AI to create a ‘Video Summary’ to help bridge the gap between seasons.
Basically, when you click on “Video Summary” on an eligible program’s page, it will present an approximately three-minute summary of the program. In the background, before you ask, the AI will get to work, analyzing the show, identifying major plot points, and getting a sense of the main characters’ arcs. The AI then cuts up the season’s best video clips and stitches them together with an AI-generated voice-over narration that plays in what will likely be a few-minute recap.
It’s no easy task, as it’s essentially tying together the main plot points and combining them into a quick video that contains custom voice narration over footage from the show, including dialogue, and adds music. However, these are being pre-generated and Amazon uses a combination of models that are available in their own Amazon Bedrock, which resides on AWS or Amazon Web Services.
After the summary, which should bring you up to speed, you can go straight to normal programming. Prime Video says it is launching ‘Video Recap’ in beta in the United States for select English-language original series. As of now, that list includes Jack Ryan by Tom Clancy, Fallout, The Rig, Bosch, and Increase.
Plus, it’s only rolling out to living room devices — think a Fire TV or a streaming player connected to a TV. The statement does not mention whether additional devices, such as the web or apps for iOS or Android, will be supported in the coming months. All eligible users in the US should view ‘Video Summaries’ by next week, November 24, 2025.
Considering it’s currently a limited beta in the US, we asked Amazon if it will be rolled out to the UK, Australia, and other international territories, either in beta or as a full release. Amazon says that at launch, ‘Video Recaps’ will only be available in the United States.
And while you’ll need to navigate to see the video summary, these are all pre-generated, so while it’s a lot of AI, it won’t happen in real time every time a user requests it.
Gérard Medioni, vice president of technology at Prime Video, writes that Video Recap is a “one-of-a-kind feature.” [that] “It demonstrates Prime Video’s continued commitment to innovation and making the viewing experience more accessible and enjoyable for customers.” It’s the latest AI-powered feature to come to Prime Video, and it comes more than a year after the streaming platform delivered a major redesign that impressed some customers and us in our testing.
Assuming these video recaps look good and meet the needs for a fun, engaging and immersive recap, it could start a trend that other streaming services could copy. I, for one, enjoy a recap of a series, especially if there has been a longer gap between seasons. I needed it when The morning program is back on Apple TV (formerly Apple TV+), and I’d like to see a fun one for when Ted Lasso come back.
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Additionally, considering that Prime Video also hosts Prime Video channels, which allow you to access content from other streaming services within the same interface, we’ll have to see if Amazon can work out a deal to offer these video digests for non-Prime Video originals, or if Amazon chooses to extend this to its other content made, produced or owned by its own company.
I’m looking forward to trying this one out and seeing Prime Video’s video recap in action, but I’m also worried about how good they might be and, of course, how this might affect the editors, showrunners, and producers who would normally orchestrate recaps at the beginning of a season.
Although if it depends on quality and the current team decides not to make one, this could serve as a decent substitute; we will have to wait and see, err, observe.
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