HBO Max launches TikTok-style Shorts feed, AI search to make content discovery easier

New Delhi: HBO Max is introducing a TikTok-inspired vertical video feed and an AI-powered conversational search feature as streaming platforms continue to look for better ways to help users discover content. The new tools will facilitate viewers’ search for films and television series from the platform’s expanding collection.

Warner Bros. announced the news on Tuesday. The company stated that both features are already undergoing a limited rollout to a small number of users in the U.S. before being rolled out to a wider number of devices and markets. It comes after other platforms like Netflix, Disney+ and Peacock have made similar changes.

HBO Max adds a vertical Shorts feed

The new Shorts tab is in the bottom navigation bar of the HBO Max app. It provides a customised stream of trailers, clips and bonus videos, tailored to the viewer’s viewing habits. After viewing a clip, users can immediately start watching a title or add it to their watchlist.

Warner Bros. says the clips are chosen AI system that reads “scene-level metadata” from thousands of hours of movies and TV programmes. The final snippets go up for human editing and are selected to reflect the best content in the platform’s library.

AI search lets users ask in natural language

HBO Max is also experimenting with a conversational AI search feature that lets users type their searches in natural language to discover content rather than by title or genre. The viewers can enter queries like “I’m in the mood for a comedy” or “best movie for a girls’ night” for individual suggestions.

It has been rolled out to some Android customers in the United States so far. Warner Bros. announced it will expand to more devices and regions in the next few months. The company has come in the wake of other streaming services such as Netflix and Amazon that have also brought in AI-driven tools to ease content finding.