JioHotstar has announced the introduction of new features aimed at enhancing the user experience at the 48th AGM (Annual General Meeting). The updates include an AI-powered voice assistant named RIYA and a technology called “Voice Print,” which uses AI for voice cloning and lip-syncing.
RIYA: A Voice-Enabled Content Search Assistant
The new voice-enabled search assistant, RIYA, is designed to simplify how users find content. According to the company, navigating through thousands of hours of content can be a daunting task for consumers. RIYA addresses this by allowing users to use natural speech to search for specific content, seasons, or episodes.
The assistant is built to understand human thought and speech patterns, curating content based on voice commands, thereby reducing the need for manual scrolling and searching.
Voice Print: AI-Powered Dubbing and Localization
Another significant feature, “Voice Print,” is a new approach to multilingual content. This technology leverages AI voice cloning and lip-sync capabilities to enable viewers to watch sports and entertainment in their preferred Indian language.
The company states that this feature aims to preserve the authenticity of the original performance. With Voice Print, an actor or commentator’s voice will be cloned to speak in a different language, while maintaining their original vocal characteristics and perfectly synchronizing with their on-screen lip movements. This is intended to create a more natural and authentic viewing experience for content such as live cricket matches and movies.
JioLenz
This is a new technology that gives users the ability to customize how they watch content and experience it from different angles. It offers multiple formats and perspectives within the same stream, providing personalized options for both sports and entertainment.
MaxView 3.0
This is an upgraded version of Jio’s mobile-first cricket viewing feature MaxView. It is designed to provide a more interactive and immersive cricket experience by bringing multiple camera angles, live scorecards, instant highlights, and language choices onto a single screen.
Platform Growth and Content Library
The announcement of these new features comes alongside data highlighting JioHotstar’s rapid growth. The platform’s content library is reported to contain over 3.2 lakh hours of content, with an additional 30,000 hours added annually. This content volume is stated to be significantly larger than that of its two closest competitors combined.
The company also reported substantial user adoption, with 600 million users joining the app within three months of its launch. This included over 75 million connected TV users. With a reported 300 million paying subscribers, JioHotstar has become one of the world’s largest streaming platforms.