EE UK Launch AI-Powered Conversational Smart Search for Pay TV Customers
Customers of broadband ISP and mobile operator EE (BT), specifically those who also take their Pay TV (IPTV) service, can now take advantage of a new AI-powered “conversational” content discovery feature called ‘Smart Search’ that interprets voice searches when spoken in a more natural way. They’ve also added a ‘Mood Matcher’ feature.
The goal of Smart Search is to help users of their Pay TV service find what they want to watch “faster and more easily than ever before“. The system uses AI to interpret natural language queries, allowing viewers to search in the way they naturally think, whether that’s hunting for “a funny detective show”, “a film with the actor from The Inbetweeners”, or even a quote they remember from a favourite scene.
In addition, EE are also launching Mood Matcher, another AI-powered feature. Customers essentially answer a few quick questions about their mood, genres and themes, and Mood Matcher will then instantly serve up a personalised selection of shows and films. “It’s especially handy for groups, cutting through the endless debate to get everyone on the sofa and watching faster,” said EE.
Advertisement
The new features have been launched to help tackle an area that EE’s recent research has identified as being ripe for improvement. According to a Censuswide survey of 2,000 UK respondents conducted this month, some 41% of TV viewers want to discover new content but don’t know where to start.
Meanwhile, 45% say they regularly rewatch the same shows simply because choosing something new feels like too much effort, and 38% say deciding what to watch is the number one cause of tension in their household.
Luciano Oliveira, Director of Product, Home & TV at EE, said:
“Choosing what to watch shouldn’t be hard, but for millions of households, it genuinely is. We’ve all lost half an hour to scrolling, or given up and rewatched something familiar just to end the debate. Smart Search and Mood Matcher are our answer to that: describe what you’re in the mood for, answer a few quick questions, and EE TV does the rest. Welcome to spending less time deciding, and more time relaxing and enjoying the TV you love.”
Smart Search and Mood Matcher are available now via the EE TV app on compatible TV devices, with plans to extend availability to EE TV Pro and EE TV Box Edge customers at a later date.
Mark is a professional technology writer, IT consultant and computer engineer from Dorset (England), he also founded ISPreview in 1999 and enjoys analysing the latest telecoms and broadband developments. Find me on X (Twitter), Mastodon, Facebook, BlueSky, Threads.net and Linkedin.
Advertisement
Leave a Reply
Privacy Notice: Please note that news comments are anonymous, which means that we do NOT require you to enter any real personal details to post a message and display names can be almost anything you like (provided they do not contain offensive language or impersonate a real person's legal name). By clicking to submit a post you agree to storing your entries for comment content, display name, IP and email in our database, for as long as the post remains live.
Only the submitted name and comment will be displayed in public, while the rest will be kept private (we will never share this outside of ISPreview, regardless of whether the data is real or fake). This comment system uses submitted IP, email and website address data to spot abuse and spammers. All data is transferred via an encrypted (https secure) session.
Oh dear.
I had someone from EE come to my Door last week, one of their reps anyway, trying to get me to change. Came out with stuff, like do you know about the cables being changed, instead of coming out with fibre. I said yes, already changed, but away from Openreach. Then he came out with something about is my wi-fi okay, I said my wifi is fine for what I use of it, I am not interested in EE, BT, or Openreach. I am with Zzoomm which is cheaper and better, now kindly go.
Oh he. said, Zzoomm.
As for AI in TV search, WHY? It is getting ridicules now, A.I flipping everywhere.
Don’t be surprised the next time you go to Maccy D’s if they ask you “Do you want AI with that?”.LOL
That’s one thing about having Giffgaff and VM’s (rather large) Fibre box outside my door, I hope to no longer have to deal with any VM reps, especially that really pushy one.
I would be surprised if I went to Mucky D full stop. The last time was 10 years ago and that was only because I was pushed into it by a friend at the time. Before that must have been 25 years or more.
But I would not be surprise if they don’t use some sort of A.I to help you choose what you want. I don’t need A.I to choose what I want.
@tech3475, to be honest, I don’t get them here that often, certainly the first one from EE.
I need to stick a notice on the door, saying, I have broadband, i have gas and electric, I don’t need insurance and I also don’t need a TV licence, so don’t bother to ring the bell.
EE releasing an Ai Smart Search for their TV service but not on their own TV hardware that delivers the aforementioned TV service, pretty much sums them up!