Rudy Lai

AI @ Warner Bros. Discovery

Film, streaming, TV networks
Industry
Last updated
July 3, 2025 at 10:44 AM

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

More AI announcements = more VIBE
Q1 23Q2 23Q3 23Q4 23Q1 24Q2 24Q3 24Q4 24Q1 25Q2 25Q3 25🔥🔥🔥🔥

5 AI Use Cases at Warner Bros. Discovery

Video Intelligence
Through its accelerator program, WBD supports platforms like ViralMoment that use AI to analyze social video content trends and viewer engagement to inform content strategy and marketing. [1]
Production Automation
AI is used to streamline content production workflows including scriptwriting assistance, story development, and automated video editing, improving efficiency and quality of media outputs. [1][2]
Ad Targeting
The company employs AI to enhance advertising effectiveness by improving ad targeting, creating interactive shoppable ads, and analyzing consumer moments to drive engagement and revenue. [1][2]
Automated Captioning
WBD partnered with Google Cloud to deploy AI tools that automatically generate closed captions for streaming content, significantly reducing production time and costs while improving accessibility. [1][2][3]
Content Discovery
Warner Bros. Discovery uses AI to analyze video metadata and viewer data to improve how audiences find and engage with content across its platforms, enhancing personalized recommendations and content relevance. [1][2]

Timeline

2025 Q3: no updates

2025 Q2

1 updates

WBD announced its 2025 accelerator program cohort including ViralMoment, a video intelligence platform using proprietary AI to analyze social video content.

2025 Q1

2 updates

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

3 updates

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

7 updates

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.

2024 Q2

4 updates

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.

2024 Q1: no updates

2023 Q4

2 updates

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

1 updates

Warner Bros. began collaborating with Intel to use AI for applying video metadata to improve content discovery and audience connection.