HBO Max Joins the Vertical Video Game With ‘HBO Max Shorts’

HBO Max is dipping its toes into the vertical video space, the streamer said on Tuesday as part of its announcement of two new AI-powered mobile features for US customers. HBO Max Shorts is the vertical attribute in question, designed to streamline content discovery across the platform. The feature is currently being tested with select iPhone users. More devices, more markets and a new sports shorts category are all planned, the press release states. If you’re one of the folks with access to the feature during this testing phase, you’ll see a Shorts icon in the navigation menu at the bottom of the app. Click it, and you can “browse trailers, clips and bonus content.” Based on your watch history, HBO Max will offer up content tailored to you. From there, you can watch the movie or show the clip represents, add it to your My List queue, or simply move on with your day. “Ask HBO Max” will let users search for content based on natural language prompts. Since this feature is promoting content discovery, HBO Max Shorts doesn’t currently feature original programming. Competitors like Netflix and Disney Plus have recently launched their own vertical video content to push viewers to watch each streamer’s established long-form content. If you’re curious how HBO Max selects the content to be “verticalized” (its word, not mine), the streamer revealed it’s all thanks to an in-house AI tool that guides human editors through thousands of hours of footage to pick the “most compelling, high-impact scenes for discovery.” “We’re thrilled to launch this application of AI to accelerate the creation of these clips and look forward to quickly expanding to make even more of our amazing content offering discoverable through this new feature,” Deepna Devkar, HBO Max senior vice president of Machine Learning Engineering, said in a statement. “Ask HBO Max” is the second mobile feature announced. Currently in testing, it also uses AI to assist viewers in content discovery using natural language, like telling the platform you’re “in the mood for a comedy,” or are looking for the “best movie for a girls’ night in.” Ask HBO Max will eventually be rolled out to more devices and markets. Aaron Pruner Writer Aaron covers what's exciting and new in the world of home entertainment and streaming TV. Previously, he wrote about entertainment for places like Rotten Tomatoes, Inverse, TheWrap, Washington Post and The Hollywood Reporter. Aaron is also an actor and stay-at-home dad, which means coffee is his friend. See full bio The Latest from Aaron HBO Max Joins the Vertical Video Game With ‘HBO Max Shorts’ Comic-Con 2026 Trailers Are Here: Check Out Carrie, Reacher, Queen of the Damned and More ‘Mortal Kombat II’ Release Date: When to Stream the Video Game Movie Sequel Services and Software Guides VPN Best VPN Best iPhone VPN Best Free VPN Best Android VPN Best Mac VPN Best Mobile VPN Best VPN for Firestick Best VPN for Windows Fastest VPN Best Cheap VPN Cybersecurity Best Password Manager Best Antivirus Best Identity Theft Protection Best LastPass Alternative Streaming Services Best Live TV Streaming Service Best Streaming Service Best Free TV Streaming Service Best Music Streaming Services Web Hosting & Websites Best Web Hosting Best Minecraft Server Hosting Best Website Builder Other Services & Software Best Dating Sites Best Language Learning Apps Best Weather App Best Stargazing App