Canal is stepping up its use of artificial intelligence through separate partnerships with OpenAI and Google Cloud, aimed at improving content discovery and supporting new creative tools across its streaming platform.
Beginning in June 2026, the Canal+ App will introduce a new search experience powered by OpenAI’s generative AI models. The feature will allow subscribers to search using natural language – for example by describing a mood, genre or type of programme – with the platform then suggesting relevant content.
The system is designed to move beyond traditional keyword-based search, enabling users to enter queries such as “a heartwarming romantic comedy”, “an epic historical series” or “something light and entertaining to watch”, with the app returning personalised recommendations.
Maxime Saada, chairman of the management board of Canal+, said: “We are delighted to partner with OpenAI, a world leader in artificial intelligence, to enhance the entertainment experience for our more than 40 million subscribers. This collaboration is in line with Canal+’s tradition of innovation and our ongoing commitment to reinventing the entertainment experience.”
Ashley Kramer, VP enterprise at OpenAI, said the integration would allow subscribers to interact with the app more naturally. “By integrating OpenAI into the Canal+ app, subscribers can simply describe the type of content they want to watch,” she said.
Alongside the OpenAI agreement, CANAL+ has also signed a multi-year partnership with Google Cloud to deploy generative AI technologies across its European and African markets.
Under the arrangement, Canal+ will use Google Cloud tools to accelerate the video indexing of its content library, creating a multimodal database combining video, sound and text. The company said the enhanced classification of its catalogue would improve recommendation engines on the CANAL+ App, enabling more precise personalisation based on viewing habits.
CANAL+ also plans to use Google’s Veo3 generative video technology to support creative teams and production partners. Potential uses include previsualising scenes before filming or recreating historical events from archival images.
Stéphane Baumier, chief technology officer of Canal+, said the partnership would help drive technical innovation across the group. “Content video indexing for CANAL+ at scale gives the group a significant edge, notably by enabling us to deliver sharper discovery and truly enhanced personalised journeys on the CANAL+ App across all our markets.”
Matt Renner, president and chief revenue officer at Google Cloud, said the collaboration highlighted the growing role of AI in the media industry. “By leveraging Google Cloud’s generative AI technologies, Canal+ is not just adopting tools; they are architecting the future of media and fundamentally transforming the entertainment landscape on a global scale.”
Canal+ said the new initiatives build on a broader innovation strategy that has included aggregating major third-party platforms within its app and expanding its services into connected vehicles.
