Netflix Password Sharing May Soon Be Impossible Due To New AI Tracking (independent.co.uk)

Posted by BeauHD on Thursday January 10, 2019 @12:03PM from the good-things-coming-to-an-end dept.

An anonymous reader quotes a report from The Independent: A video software firm has come up with a way to prevent people from sharing their account details for Netflix and other streaming services with friends and family members. UK-based Synamedia unveiled the artificial intelligence software at the CES 2019 technology trade show in Las Vegas, claiming it could save the streaming industry billions of dollars over the next few years. The AI system developed by Synamedia uses machine learning to analyze account activity and recognize unusual patterns, such as account details being used in two locations within similar time periods. The idea is to spot instances of customers sharing their account credentials illegally and offering them a premium shared account service that will authorize a limited level of password sharing. The company said it is already carrying out trials with a number of pay-TV operators but did not reveal which ones.

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For all of the hype by edi_guy · 2019-01-10 12:27 · Score: 3, Funny

Basically it just comes down to "... as account details being used in two locations within similar time periods." You don't need 'machine learning' for that. I suspect Netflix does this behind the scenes and lets it roll for the most common instances of household members watching separately. A while back Amazon clamped down on multiple accounts without AI. I doubt anyone will buy/invest in this firm.
I will continue to invest my own money in brick and mortar companies like Sears and Macy's.