Amazon is introducing a new “summary” feature that can help Kindle users recall plot points and character arcs before picking up the latest books in the series. Although the company's press release for the new feature does not mention AI, Amazon has confirmed that TechCrunch has a summary generated by AI.
“We use technology that includes Genai and Amazon moderators to create short summary of the book that accurately reflects the content of the book,” Amazon spokesperson Ale Iraheta said in an emailed statement.
Users joined Reddit to share concerns about the use of AI for features. The company says it ensures that the summary accurately reflects the content, but TechCrunch is looking for more information about the process.
US Kindle device users can see a short summary of books purchased or borrowed for thousands of bestselling English e-books in the series. Amazon will soon be offering Recaps functionality to its Kindle app for iOS.
Image credit: Amazon
To access the summary, users must participate in the latest Kindle software. Users can check if a series has a summary by looking for the Show View button on the Kindle Library Series page or using the View Summary option within the Series Grouping 3-dot menu.
Before reading the summary, you will be warned that it contains spoilers about the main plot points and characters. Once you admit this, you'll be taken to the summary.
“By adding a new level of convenience to series readings, the Recaps feature allows readers to dig deeper into complex worlds and characters without losing the joy of discovery, ensuring an uninterrupted reading experience across all genres,” Amazon wrote in a blog post.
The company says that summaries are available for all sorts of series, from epic fantasy series to mystery thrillers, including title trends and longtime favorites.