AWS Demos AI Tools to Deliver Vertical Video

Why It Matters

Vertical video is rapidly becoming the dominant format for Gen Z, forcing broadcasters and streaming platforms to adapt or lose audience share. AWS’s real‑time AI solutions give media companies a fast, scalable way to meet this demand and stay competitive against social‑media giants.

Key Takeaways

• AWS Elemental Inference adds vertical video feed with 6‑10 sec delay
• Fox and NBCUniversal already using real‑time AI video creation
• Omdia predicts micro‑drama revenue $14B now, $20B by 2030
• Builder Lab lets attendees deploy AI models hands‑on
• Cloud Court Challenge showcases AI‑driven sports analytics with Raptors partner

Pulse Analysis

The rise of vertical video reflects a broader cultural shift toward mobile‑first content consumption, especially among Gen Z, who now watch the majority of streaming on smartphones. Industry analysts note that 88 % of Gen Z streaming occurs on phones, and users are spending more time on short‑form vertical clips than on traditional on‑demand services. This trend pressures legacy broadcasters to re‑engineer workflows, prompting cloud providers like AWS to embed AI directly into live‑encoding pipelines.

AWS Elemental Inference exemplifies that strategic pivot. By applying AI in parallel with live encoding, the service can automatically re‑format a standard broadcast into a vertical stream with a latency of just six to ten seconds. Early adopters such as Fox and NBCUniversal have reported smoother delivery of mobile‑optimized feeds, reducing the need for separate production pipelines. The technology leverages Amazon’s extensive GPU infrastructure, enabling scalable, real‑time transformations that would be costly to build in‑house.

Beyond vertical video, AWS is cultivating an ecosystem for creators and sports innovators. The Builder Lab offers developers a sandbox to experiment with generative models, while the AI Studio Startup Spotlight highlights emerging firms that could reshape content creation. The Cloud Court Challenge, in partnership with the Toronto Raptors’ parent company, demonstrates how computer‑vision analytics can enhance fan engagement and athletic performance. Together, these initiatives position AWS as a one‑stop platform for media companies navigating the fast‑evolving digital landscape.