Key facts
- HBO Max has launched a new 'Shorts' feed featuring vertical video clips and trailers.
- The platform is also testing an experimental AI-powered conversational search function.
- The 'Shorts' feed uses AI to analyze content and personalize recommendations based on watch history.
- Users can directly start watching content or save it to a watch later list from the Shorts feed.
- The AI search allows users to make natural language queries, such as 'in the mood for a comedy'.
- Both features are currently in limited testing phases for select iOS and Android users in the U.S.
HBO Max is implementing a TikTok-like vertical video feed, dubbed 'Shorts,' and an experimental AI-powered conversational search feature to enhance content discovery. These additions aim to address the challenge of navigating large content libraries and cater to audience preferences for short-form content.
The 'Shorts' icon, located in the app's bottom navigation menu, will present users with a personalized feed of trailers, clips, and bonus content derived from their watch history. An AI tool analyzes content at the scene level to identify compelling moments, with HBO Max editors curating the final selections. Users can immediately start watching a show or movie from a clip or save it for later.
This move places HBO Max alongside other streaming services like Netflix, Disney+, and Peacock, which have also introduced vertical video feeds. The new features are initially being rolled out to select iOS users for the vertical feed and select Android users for the AI search in the U.S., with broader availability planned.