Spotify announces trial of innovative AI driven music curation tool

In recent months, Spotify has been reportedly working on an innovative feature, leveraging AI technology to enable users of its streaming service to craft their own playlists. This groundbreaking "AI Playlists" function has now been seen in action, trying to gauge user reception. While Spotify acknowledged the trial to, they remained tight-lipped about the specifics of the technology and its deployment timeline.

New feature of Spotify spotted by TikTok users

The feature caught attention when a TikTok user, @robdad_, showcased it in a video, intriguingly captioned, “Did I just stumble upon Spotify’s ChatGPT?” He demonstrated how to access the AI playlist tool via the “Your Library” section of the Spotify app, where clicking the plus (+) icon in the top right corner reveals the new AI option among existing choices like “Playlist” and “Blend.”

On choosing this new AI feature, users encounter a chatbot-style interface for entering their music preferences or exploring suggested themes. The TikTok video highlighted prompts such as “instrumental electronica for focused work,” “café ambiance for background noise,” “uplifting, high-energy tunes,” and exploring unique genres like “Witch House.” Opting for the last suggestion, the user witnessed the AI’s prompt processing followed by a sample playlist presentation. This interface allows for swiping left to exclude tracks, refining the playlist.

AI element was already involved from October

Discovery of this AI element in Spotify’s mobile app by tech expert Chris Messina, who found hints of a feature creating “prompt-based playlists.” At that time, Spotify didn’t confirm any AI playlist plans, avoiding comments on future feature speculations. Presently, Spotify is cautiously managing expectations regarding the AI playlists feature, confirming only its test status.

A company spokesperson stated, “We regularly conduct various tests. Some tests might shape our wider user experience, while others are crucial for learning. Currently, we have no additional details to divulge,” underscoring their cautious approach towards this potential feature expansion.