HBO Max has implemented tests of new features in its mobile application focused on improving content discovery for users. These innovations include a dedicated vertical feed for short videos and an AI-powered search functionality. Warner Bros. announced these advancements last Tuesday, the 28th.
Initial Evaluation and Features
Currently, the evaluation of these features is being conducted by specific groups of users located in the United States, and the versions are available for both iOS and Android systems. The platform's main objective is to simplify navigation through its vast catalog, presenting renewed methods for subscribers to find movies and series.
To achieve this purpose, the service integrates highly personalized recommendations, automatic scene analysis, and the ability to process natural language commands. This approach follows a trend observed in other streaming platforms that seek to adapt the experience to fast video consumption.
The Shorts and AI Feature
A new component called 'Shorts' has been added as an icon on the bottom bar of the HBO Max app. When accessed, it displays a vertical sequence composed of trailers, clips from productions, and supplementary material related to the platform's archive. The curation of these videos is adapted to each subscriber's individual interests, using data such as viewing history and consumption preferences.
If a specific segment captures the viewer's interest, they have the immediate option to start playing the corresponding movie or series, or choose to save the title for later viewing. Warner Bros. clarified that the initial selection of these clips is assisted by an artificial intelligence tool, which has the capacity to interpret data at the scene level. This system scans thousands of hours of audiovisual material to identify the most engaging moments to be shown to the public.
Even with the use of automated technology, the final decision on which clips will be displayed remains under the supervision of HBO Max editors, who are responsible for judging which scenes best represent the service's available catalog.
Conversational Search and Market
This move positions HBO Max in line with other major streaming platforms that have already incorporated vertical video formats to promote parts of their catalogs. Among these cited competitors are Netflix, Disney+, and Peacock, all using short content as a means of title discovery.
In addition to the video feed, the company has begun testing a new conversational search modality. This feature allows users to perform searches using more natural descriptions, instead of being limited to typing only movie or series names. With this tool, the platform can understand requests such as asking for a comedy, a production focused on complex family dynamics, or a suggestion for a girls' night out, presenting recommendations aligned with the user's intent.
The technology employed follows a pattern similar to that adopted by other industry services. For example, Netflix had already launched an AI search experience, while Amazon offers a voice search tool on Fire TV devices, capable of answering open-ended questions about shows and movies. According to Warner Bros., the HBO Max intelligent search feature is still in the experimental phase and will expand to more devices and markets at a later time.
