The Amazon Kindle’s new AI-driven Recaps feature wants to make having to remember the things you’re previously read a thing of the past. Folks used to do this in school to develop a human ability called ‘reading comprehension’, but nobody needs something like that in 2025, do they?
Well, needed or not, it’s here. Amazon says that the feature works similarly to the ‘Previously on…’ segments on TV shows and multi-part movies [see subhead], serving up information you might have forgotten in the book you’ve just read.
“Last time on Dragon Ball Z…”
Recaps is triggered by readers, so you don’t have to worry about spoilers — at least, spoilers that aren’t your fault. Amazon says the feature “enables readers to dive deeper into complex worlds and characters without losing the joy of discovery, all while ensuring an uninterrupted reading experience across every genre.”
But in order to use Recaps, you’ll need the 5.18.1 firmware for your device (you’ll find details here). After that, you’ll need to find a supported book series to use it with. Those series will have a ‘View Recaps’ button on your Kindle’s Series page, letting you know that you don’t have to bother remembering all those names and events all on your lonesome. A similar button will be available in the three-button ‘meatball’ menu on your Kindle for supported books. Just… don’t click it for the wrong title, or you might spoil the Big Twist™ for yourself.
Of course, Recaps might not simply be here to destroy everyone’s comprehension skills. Perhaps you’re reading George R.R. Martin’s Song of Ice and Fire, and you’ve been waiting since 2010 for Winds of Winter. Do you really remember who Lady Stoneheart is and what she’s currently doing? Amazon’s Recaps AI remembers. Probably.
