With its renowned AI DJ functionality, Spotify has surged in popularity, expanding its AI integration to playlist curation. The streaming music service now enables users to craft playlists based on written cues, a feature unveiled in alpha on Monday.
Initially available to users in the U.K. and Australia on Android and iOS devices, the feature is set for further enhancements.
Beyond traditional playlist requests based on genres or time periods, Spotify’s AI empowers users to seek a diverse range of custom playlists, such as “songs for serenading my cat” or “beats for battling a zombie apocalypse,” the company suggests. Prompts can span various themes like locations, animals, activities, movie characters, colors, or emojis. Spotify emphasizes that optimal playlists result from prompts blending styles, moods, artists, and eras.
Moreover, Spotify leverages this feature to tailor the playlists it generates.
Post-playlist creation, users can refine and enrich the outcome by instructing the AI to make adjustments like “less upbeat” or “more pop.” Additionally, users can swipe left to remove songs from the playlist.
In terms of technology, Spotify employs large language models (LLMs) to decipher user intent. Subsequently, Spotify crafts a personalized AI-generated playlist based on the user’s preferences and listening history using its personalization technology.
The company utilizes an array of third-party tools for its AI and machine learning endeavors.
In October 2023, TechCrunch first caught wind of AI playlists “based on your prompts” from screenshots shared by reverse engineers Chris Messina and Alessandro Paluzzi. Although Spotify initially refrained from commenting on potential features, a TikTok video showcasing the AI-driven playlist creation, dubbed “Spotify’s ChatGPT,” prompted the company to confirm testing of the feature in December 2023.
The feature resides in Spotify’s app under the “Your Library” tab, accessible by tapping the plus button (+) at the screen’s top right. A pop-up menu displays the AI Playlist option alongside existing choices like “Playlist” and “Blend.”
For users seeking inspiration, Spotify offers prompt suggestions like “get focused at work with instrumental electronica,” “fill the silence with café background music,” “energize with upbeat tunes,” or “explore niche genres like Witch House.”
To save an AI playlist, users can tap the “Create” button to add it to their library.
Spotify emphasizes that the AI is equipped with safeguards to prevent offensive or sensitive responses related to current events or specific brands.
Investing significantly in AI technology to enhance the streaming experience, Spotify introduced AI DJ globally last year, featuring an artificial voice resembling Xavier “X” Jernigan for personalized song recommendations. In January, Spotify disclosed funding for in-house research on the latest advancements in large-language models and AI.
CEO Daniel Ek hinted at leveraging AI for podcast integration, AI-generated audio ads, and potentially modifying podcast host voices for ad reads. Preceding AI playlists, Spotify rolled out Niche Mixes, a comparable feature for personalized playlists using prompts, albeit without AI capabilities and limited language comprehension.
