Earlier this fall, Spotify was spotted developing a new feature that would allow users of the streaming app to create playlists using AI technology and prompts. Now, this AI Playlists feature has been spotted in the wild as part of a test to see how users will respond to AI-powered playlist creation. The company confirmed the test to TechCrunch, but didn’t share more details about the technology and how it would work, or commit to a release timeline.
The feature appeared on a TikTok video from user @robdad_ who wrote, “Just discovered Spotify’s ChatGPT by accident?” According to the screenshots he shared, the AI playlists can be accessed from the ‘Your Library’ tab in the Spotify app by tapping the plus (+) button in the top right corner of the screen. Here, a pop-up menu appears and the AI playlist mode is a new option below the existing “Playlist” and “Blend” options.
The description of the feature says “Turn your ideas into playlists using AI” and notes that it’s currently only available in English.
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After selecting the option, users are presented with a screen where they can type their prompt into an AI-style chatbot-style box or browse a list of suggested messages to get started. The video showed quick ideas like “focus on working with instrumental electronica”, “fill the silence with coffee background music”, “get excited with fun, upbeat and positive songs” and “explore a niche genre like Witch House. “
The user selected the last prompt, and the chatbot AI replied “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 your playlist further.
TechCrunch had reported in October that references to this new AI feature were discovered on Spotify mobile by a tech veteran Chris Messina, who shared screenshots of a feature that would create “playlists based on your prompts.” However, Spotify at the time declined to confirm its plans for AI playlists, saying it would not comment on speculation about new features.
The company today is still trying to play down user expectations and excitement around the AI playlists feature, only confirming that it was a test for now.
“We regularly carry out a series of tests. Some of these tests end up paving the way for our broader experience, and others just serve as an important learning,” said a Spotify spokesperson. “We have nothing else to share at this time,” they added.
While the company isn’t yet ready to commit to launching AI playlists, the streamer has invested in AI across its app, including the launch of an AI DJ earlier this year that offers personalized playlists and commentary on an AI voice based on Spotify’s head of cultural partnerships, Xavier ‘X’ Jernigan; This feature became available globally in August.
Speaking about DJ’s launch, Spotify’s head of personalization Ziad Sultan noted that the company has “a large research team that understands all the possibilities in Large Language Models, in a productive voice, [and] beyond personalization”. He told TechCrunch that Spotify wants to be known for its “AI expertise.”
Spotify CEO Daniel Ek also teased other ways the company is using AI at the company, saying Spotify may try to use genetic AI to summarize podcasts and automatically create audio ads. He has also touted the role of AI in music creation, saying he could envision artists using AI tools as they create new songs. Spotify has additionally explored the use of AI to create podcast ads that are read by hosts that sound like the real person, and uses AI to power personalization technologies. That it will turn AI into one of the most popular use cases for its application—playlist creation—isn’t a stretch.
It remains to be seen if and when the new AI feature will go live to the public. In the meantime, let us know if you have the feature in your app and how well you think it works.
Sarah Perez can be reached at sarahp@techcrunch.com and (415) 234-3994 at Signal.
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