It looks like we’ve officially moved past the “and that’s what you missed on Glee” era. Amazon announced on Wednesday that Prime Video is introducing AI-generated “Video Recaps” designed to help viewers catch up between seasons of their favourite shows.
According to Amazon, the new feature “utilizes generative AI to create theatrical-quality season recaps with synchronized narration, dialogue, and music.” The beta rollout begins Wednesday for select Prime Originals, including “Fallout,” “Tom Clancy’s Jack Ryan,” and “Upload.”
Prime Video debuted a related AI feature last year called X-Ray Recaps, which could summarise full seasons, episodes, or even specific sections. At the time, Amazon emphasized that its AI model included safeguards to prevent spoilers.
Image Credits: Prime Video
Viewers today are already used to text-based AI summaries — whether from messaging apps or Google’s auto-generated search summaries — but switching to video recaps steps into newer, more intrusive territory. They may feel more disruptive than text, though some viewers might welcome them, especially those who can’t remember what happened on older shows like “Bosch.”
Other streaming platforms are also exploring generative AI features.
YouTube TV uses a “Key Plays” tool to help viewers catch up on sports when joining a game late. Though imperfect (its baseball algorithm often highlights only offensive plays), the feature helped YouTube TV earn a Technical Emmy Award.
Netflix, meanwhile, is deploying generative AI on the production side. Earlier this year, it used AI in the final footage of the Argentine series “The Eternaut” for the first time to create a collapsing building scene. Later, “Happy Gilmore 2” used generative AI to de-age characters in the opening sequence, and the production team behind “Billionaires’ Bunker” used AI during pre-production to visualize wardrobe and set design.
The rise of AI in entertainment continues to spark debate. Many artists worry that AI tools — often trained on creative works without permission — could threaten jobs in animation, VFX, or production. Others argue the opposite: that tools like Wonder Dynamics, which automate labour-intensive tasks, could expand creative capacity and reduce repetitive workloads.
