Recommendation SystemVerified

Reviewed and published by trentmaziarz, May 11, 2026. Discovered and drafted by our automated research pipeline.

Warner Bros. Discovery uses machine learning to personalize the content each subscriber sees on Max, surfacing shows and movies based on individual viewing history, regional engagement trends, and other signals. A machine learning ranking model scores content candidates and dynamically assigns them to spots on the streaming interface, with editors retaining the option to override.

Details

According to WBD's CEO David Zaslav (May 2024 earnings call) and the company's own tech blog, AI and machine learning are incorporated into Max's recommendation engine to personalize content discovery across its 125+ million global subscribers. The system uses a ranking model that scores content assets based on predicted relevance and diversity, then assigns them to interface slots dynamically. Human editorial teams can override the algorithm. The tech blog describes this as blending a 'content-first' philosophy with automated promotion algorithms.

Products affected

MaxHBO Maxdiscovery+

Sources & Evidence

Company Disclosure

Engineering the Future of Streaming: How HBO Max Is Reinventing Merchandising with Automation, Vision, and Scale

TECH @ WBD (Warner Bros. Discovery Tech Blog)·Aug 2025

https://wbdtechblog.com/engineering-the-future-of-streaming-how-hbo-max-is-reinventing-merchandising-with-automation-4a52fb203376

Company Disclosure

Warner Bros. Discovery Unveils Max Streaming Service

PR Newswire·Apr 2023

https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/warner-bros-discovery-unveils-max-streaming-service-301795959.html

News Article

CEO David Zaslav On How Warner Bros. Discovery Is Using AI

Next TV / Broadcasting+Cable·May 2024

https://www.nexttv.com/news/ceo-david-zaslav-on-how-warner-bros-discovery-is-using-ai

Cite this record

Trace Foundation. (2026). Warner Bros. Discovery: Warner Bros. Discovery uses machine learning to personalize the content each subscriber sees on Max, surfacing shows and movies based on individual viewing history, regional engagement trends, and other signals. A machine learning ranking model scores content candidates and dynamically assigns them to spots on the streaming interface, with editors retaining the option to override (data as of 2026-05-11) [Data set record]. AI Trace. https://www.aitrace.org/r/practice/1004c3cf-f0cc-4669-a7fa-40da34df746c. Accessed October 5, 2026.

Stable link: https://www.aitrace.org/r/practice/1004c3cf-f0cc-4669-a7fa-40da34df746c
Data as of: May 11, 2026
Last verified: Not recorded

How to cite AI Trace

Other practices by Warner Bros. Discovery

ProductivityWBD Sports Europe deployed Cycling Central Intelligence (CCI), a generative AI platform built with Amazon Web Services, to help commentators and production teams instantly access rider profiles, race histories, and performance statistics during live UCI Mountain Bike World Series events. The platform launched in April 2025.Data AnalysisWarner Bros. Discovery uses AI to identify and optimize ad break placement within HBO content on Max, which historically lacked natural commercial breaks. CEO David Zaslav confirmed this practice publicly in May 2024.OtherWarner Bros. Discovery integrated KERV's AI technology into its Max ad platform in November 2024, launching two ad products: 'Shop with Max,' which identifies objects in on-screen content and pairs them with advertiser products via QR code, and 'Moments,' which uses audio and visual analysis to match ads to thematically relevant content segments.

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