HBO Max Adds TikTok-Style Shorts Feed and Conversational Search
Streaming service HBO Max has introduced a vertical short-form video feed and an experimental natural-language conversational search tool to help users navigate its library. Announced on Tuesday by parent company Warner Bros., the updates follow similar discovery pivots by competitors like Netflix and Disney+, aiming to combat viewer fatigue amidst growing content catalogs.
Key points
- Warner Bros. announced on Tuesday that HBO Max is launching a vertical short-form video feed and an experimental conversational search tool.
- The new 'Shorts' icon in the mobile app bottom navigation menu opens a customized feed of trailers, clips, and bonus material based on individual watch history.
- Users can immediately stream full titles or save them to a watch-later list directly from the short video interface.
- An AI tool utilizing scene-level metadata analyzes thousands of hours of content to surface compelling scenes, which are then curated by human editors.
- The platform is also rolling out a natural-language search feature allowing users to find content using conversational prompts.
- The new features are currently rolling out to some iOS users in the US before expanding to more devices and markets.
Streaming service HBO Max is overhauling its content discovery mechanics by introducing a vertical short-form video feed and an experimental conversational search tool. Announced on Tuesday by parent company Warner Bros., the update addresses growing challenges viewers face when attempting to navigate expansive digital catalogs on streaming platforms.
The new feature, accessed via a dedicated 'Shorts' icon in the mobile app's bottom navigation menu, presents personalized trailers, clips, and bonus material. Powered by an internal AI tool that evaluates scene-level metadata across thousands of hours of film and television, the system surfaces engaging moments that are subsequently curated by human editors. Viewers can immediately launch the full title or save it to a watch-later list directly from any clip.
Alongside the video feed, HBO Max is introducing a natural-language search capability. Utilizing semantic search and language understanding rather than traditional keyword queries, the chatbot allows users to request specific viewing recommendations, such as films suited for particular moods or group gatherings.
The updates position HBO Max alongside industry competitors like Netflix and Disney+, which have similarly experimented with vertical video feeds to capture user engagement modeled after platforms like TikTok and Instagram Reels. Initially available to select US iOS users, the features are slated for a broader rollout across additional devices and international markets.
Sources
The WireByte editorial team synthesises technology news from multiple primary sources, verifies the facts, and links every source. Articles are produced with AI assistance and reviewed under our editorial policy.