Amazon’s AI efforts have seen ups and downs, but Kindle users are now getting a handy new tool—for free. This new AI-powered feature offers multiple benefits for readers.
The company has launched a feature called Recaps for Kindle devices. It helps users quickly catch up on plotlines and character arcs in book series. Many readers struggle to return to long-running series because they don’t want to reread earlier books. Recaps aims to fix that.
This feature uses artificial intelligence to generate short summaries of previously read books in a series. That way, readers can get up to speed before jumping into the next installment. Amazon is rolling out Recaps via an over-the-air (OTA) update to Kindle users in the U.S.
Although Amazon’s press release doesn’t mention AI directly, the company confirmed to TechCrunch that it uses AI to generate the summaries. “We use technology, including GenAI and Amazon moderators, to create short recaps of books that accurately reflect book content,” said Amazon spokesperson Ale Iraheta in an email.
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Still, some users are skeptical. On Reddit, readers have raised concerns about how accurate these AI-generated recaps will be. While Amazon insists that the summaries reflect the books’ content properly, it has shared few details about the creation process.
Currently, Kindle users in the U.S. can view short recaps of thousands of best-selling English-language e-books in a series. Amazon also plans to expand the feature to the Kindle app for iOS soon.
Wondering how to use it? First, make sure your Kindle is updated to the latest software. Then, check if a series has a recap by tapping the three-dot menu in the series grouping or looking for the “View Recaps” button in your Kindle Library.
Before opening a recap, Kindle will warn you that it contains spoilers about major plot points and characters. You’ll be taken to the summary directly once you accept.
“By adding a new level of convenience to series reading, the Recaps feature enables readers to dive deeper into complex worlds and characters without losing the joy of discovery, all while ensuring an uninterrupted reading experience across every genre,” Amazon explained in a blog post.
