Peacock expands into AI-driven video, mobile-first live sports, and gaming

Peacock is making a clear bet on two things: AI and mobile-first entertainment. Based on what the streamer previewed at a press event yesterday, Peacock’s mobile app is about to look a whole lot more like a mix of TikTok, a casual gaming hub, and a streaming service. From an AI-powered “Bravoverse” vertical video experience narrated by a digital avatar of TV host Andy Cohen to vertical live NBA broadcasts and mobile games, Peacock is rolling out several new features designed to keep viewers entertained on their phones even longer. The biggest reveal was a new feature called “Your Bravoverse,” aimed at viewers deeply immersed in Bravo fandom, home to addictive reality franchises like “The Real Housewives” and “Vanderpump Rules.” The feature pulls short-form clips from more than 5,000 hours of Bravo footage and stitches them into personalized playlists. The best part is that your guide will be a generative AI avatar of Andy Cohen, the famous reunion host for “The Real Housewives” franchise. Users will start the experience by selecting their favorite Bravo shows and iconic moments. From there, the AI builds a personalized stream of clips. Then Cohen’s avatar acts as the narrator, introducing moments, connecting storylines, and even surfacing new shows viewers might not have watched yet. Behind the scenes, Peacock says the system uses computer vision to identify key storylines and moments across its library. AI agents trained on Bravo fan behavior help determine what viewers care about most, while the platform stitches clips together across seasons and franchises. The result, according to Peacock, is more than 600 billion possible viewing variations. If Peacock wanted a passionate fanbase to test AI storytelling on, Bravo viewers may be the perfect audience. Fans of the franchise are famously devoted, and reality TV creates the perfect bite-sized clips to start with. According to the company, the average Bravo viewer watches about 24 hours of Bravo content per month, wh...