AI @ Warner Bros. Discovery
Summary
- Warner Bros. Discovery has progressively integrated AI technologies from 2019 through 2025, evolving from metadata-based content discovery to advanced AI-driven captioning, ad targeting, and automation under leadership including CEO David Zaslav and VP Anish Agarwal.
- Key AI applications include improving content discovery, automating closed caption generation via Google Cloud's Vertex AI, enhancing ad targeting and shoppable ads, and streamlining production workflows, reflecting increasing AI adoption and investment.
- The company has faced mixed investor sentiment on AI transparency but continues to expand AI roles and partnerships, such as with Google, while leveraging AI for operational efficiency and personalized consumer experiences.
VIBE METER
5 AI Use Cases at Warner Bros. Discovery
Video Intelligence
Production Automation
Ad Targeting
Automated Captioning
Timeline
2025 Q3: no updates
2025 Q2
WBD announced its 2025 accelerator program cohort including ViralMoment, a video intelligence platform using proprietary AI to analyze social video content.
2025 Q1
Senior Director of Engineering Deepa Paranjpe discussed AI/ML applications improving workflows and content; WBD leverages AI tools and research to maximize ad impact alongside DirecTV and vendors.
2024 Q4
WBD introduced AI-driven shoppable ads that identify items in shows and films to enhance consumer engagement; appointed Anish Agarwal as VP of AI and Automation; CTO highlighted AI and generative AI tools integration to optimize content presentation and streamline workflows.
2024 Q3
WBD partnered with Google Cloud to deploy AI-powered captioning tools on Max streaming service, leveraging Google Vertex AI to improve captioning efficiency and reduce costs; AI also used for scriptwriting, story development, and automated video editing.
- Yahoo: Warner Bros. Discovery to Use Google AI Tech for Captioning
- The Hollywood Reporter: Warner Bros. Discovery, Google Tap AI For Captioning
- CNBC: Warner Bros. Discovery, Google partner on AI-generated captions on Max
- PR Newswire: Warner Bros. Discovery Deploys AI-Powered Captioning Solution Built Using Google Cloud AI
- Variety: Warner Bros Discovery's Max Using Google Gen AI for Closed Captions
- Quartz: Google Warner Bros Discovery AI Generated Captions
- PitchGrade: Warner Bros. Discovery: AI Use Cases 2024
2024 Q2
CEO David Zaslav confirmed AI use for ad targeting and content discovery but not programming creation; company faced investor pushback on AI transparency reports; rumors of replacing productions with AI-generated content appeared.
- Nexttv: CEO David Zaslav On How Warner Bros. Discovery Is Using AI
- WCUQuad.com: The Quak: Warner Brothers Discover Productions to be Replaced by AI-Generated Entertainment
- PRI Collaboration Platform: AI Transparency Report at Warner Brothers Discovery
- Bloomberg Law News: Warner Bros. Discovery Investors Spurn Proposed AI Use Report
2024 Q1: no updates
2023 Q4
WBD highlighted projects involving machine learning in computer vision and NLP; Machine Learning Platform Engineer Frank Shen supports data science teams to productize models for media streaming.
2023 Q3: no updates
2023 Q2: no updates
2023 Q1: no updates
2022 Q4: no updates
2022 Q3: no updates
2022 Q2: no updates
2022 Q1: no updates
2021 Q4: no updates
2021 Q3: no updates
2021 Q2: no updates
2021 Q1: no updates
2020 Q4: no updates
2020 Q3: no updates
2020 Q2: no updates
2020 Q1: no updates
2019 Q4
Warner Bros. began collaborating with Intel to use AI for applying video metadata to improve content discovery and audience connection.