In a development earlier this fall, Spotify had been reported to be working on a fresh feature enabling its streaming app users to craft playlists utilizing AI technology and interactive prompts. Recently, this “AI playlists” feature has emerged in public sightings, forming part of a test aimed at gauging user responses to AI-generated playlist curation. While the company verified the test to TechCrunch, specific details about the technology’s workings remain undisclosed, and Spotify refrained from committing to a definitive launch timeline.
The feature was shown off in a TikTok video by user @robdad_ who wrote, “I just randomly discovered Spotify’s ChatGPT?” According to the screenshots he shared, the AI playlists feature is accessed from the “Your Library” tab in Spotify’s app by tapping on the plus (+) button at the top right of the screen. Here, a pop-up menu appears and the AI playlist feature is a new option underneath the existing “Playlist” and “Blend” options.
The feature’s description reads “Turn your ideas into playlists using AI” and notes that it’s currently only available in English.
@robdad_ Since when did they have this update on spotify. Now they got chatGPT making our playlists… also wtf is Which House Exploration😭😭 #spotify #update #ai ♬ Heavy Metal Lover overlapped – jinxknsaudios
The user selected the latter prompt and the AI chatbot responded “Processing your request…” and then presented a sample playlist. From this screen, you can swipe left to remove any songs you don’t want to refine the playlist further.
“We routinely conduct a number of tests. Some of those tests end up paving the path for our broader experience and others serve only as an important learning,” a Spotify spokesperson said. “We don’t have anything further to share at this time,” they added.
Though the company isn’t yet ready to commit to the launch of AI playlists, the streamer has been heaving investing in AI across its app, including with the launch of an AI DJ at the beginning of the year, which offers personalized playlists and commentary in an AI voice that’s based on Spotify’s head of cultural partnerships Xavier ‘X’ Jernigan. That feature became globally available in August.
Speaking about DJ’s launch, Spotify’s head of Personalization, Ziad Sultan noted the company has “a large research team that is understanding all the possibilities across Large Language Models, across generative voice, [and] across personalization.” He told TechCrunch that Spotify wants to be known for its “AI expertise.”
Spotify CEO Daniel Ek has hinted at various other applications of AI within the company’s framework. Ek suggested that Spotify might explore leveraging generative AI to summarize podcasts and automate the creation of audio advertisements. He has also highlighted the potential of AI in music production, envisioning artists utilizing AI tools in the creative process of composing new songs. Furthermore, Spotify’s AI initiatives encompass experiments with generating podcast ads voiced by AI to sound convincingly human-like, along with powering the platform’s personalized recommendations through AI-driven technologies. Given Spotify’s emphasis on AI across multiple fronts, integrating AI into the popular use case of playlist creation seems like a natural progression.
As for the public release of this new AI feature, its rollout timeline remains uncertain. If you have access to this feature within your app, we’d love to hear your feedback on its functionality and performance.