It is a common practice for a streaming service about to launch a major show to release a brief recap video to help viewers catch up. However, Prime Video seems to have once again misstepped with AI technology in creating a new recap video for the upcoming second season of “Fallout.” This surprise release contains inaccuracies and misconceptions about the show.
The news was first reported by GamesRadar+, and the “Fallout” season one recap video from Prime Video was also shared on Reddit. You can watch the three-minute clip on Prime Video by visiting the Fallout page, selecting season two, and clicking on “Bonus: Fallout Season 1 Recap.”
Upon watching the video, viewers are met with a robotic voice that sounds like a text-to-speech program. This is reminiscent of Prime Video’s anime AI beta dub that received negative feedback, leading Amazon to retract the English AI beta for shows like “Banana Fish” and “No Game No Life.”
One of the errors in the “Fallout” trailer is the narrator mistakenly placing flashbacks of pre-ghoul Walton Goggins in 1950s America instead of 2077 as correctly pointed out by GamesRadar+. Another mistake in the recap video involves mischaracterizing a key moment from season one where Lucy MacLean is offered a choice by the Ghoul.
In reality, both characters were united in their disdain for Hank (played by Kyle MacLachlan) and decided to team up to confront him peacefully. This sets the stage for the upcoming second season, though this crucial detail is not effectively conveyed in the flawed recap video.
io9 has contacted Prime Video for comment and will update accordingly if there is a response.
It appears that Prime Video’s use of AI for recap videos is not new, as they have been experimenting with AI-generated recaps since March. The company even promoted this feature in a blog post highlighting how AI can enhance viewing experiences by providing visual summaries of important plot points.
Despite these intentions, it is evident that the AI program falls short in accurately capturing all essential details of a show, often missing even basic nuances. While AI technology may have its limitations, it raises questions about the necessity of emotionless recaps delivered with little enthusiasm.
This misstep reflects poorly on Prime Video, especially given the anticipation surrounding events like Geoff Keighley’s Game Awards where “Fallout” has been recognized previously. The show deserves recognition for its quality, making it disappointing that Prime Video did not invest more effort into creating an engaging and accurate recap for viewers.
“Fallout” season two is set to premiere on December 17 on Prime Video, provided this incident of AI mishap hasn’t soured your appetite for Vault-dwelling adventures.