HBO Max is reimagining how viewers explore its library with a new Shorts feed and an experimental AI-powered search tool. Warner Bros. says the update is designed to make discovery faster, more intuitive, and better aligned with modern viewing habits.
The new vertical feed appears in the app's bottom navigation and brings together trailers, clips, and bonus material. Recommendations are personalized using watch history, allowing users to jump directly into a title or save it for later. The feature is currently being tested with select iPhone users in the U.S. before expanding to more devices and markets.
Behind the feed, Warner Bros. uses AI to scan scene-level metadata across thousands of hours of film and television content, helping surface standout moments for discovery. HBO Max editors then curate the clips that best represent the platform's catalog.
The company is also introducing conversational search that understands natural language prompts such as "in the mood for a comedy" or "best movie for a girls night in." The goal is to make recommendations feel more fluid and human, especially as streaming libraries continue to grow.
HBO Max joins other major streaming platforms that are experimenting with vertical video and AI-based discovery tools. The new search feature is currently available to select Android users in the U.S., with broader rollout plans ahead.
As streaming platforms become more adaptive, discovery tools like these may shape a more personalized and interactive future for digital entertainment.
