Building on last year’s AI DJ feature, Spotify is pushing the boundaries of music curation with its latest beta tool — AI Playlist. According to Spotify, this new feature lets users generate unique playlists simply by describing what they want using text prompts. Currently, the beta is available to Spotify Premium mobile users in the UK and Australia, but given its potential I expect the feature to go global sooner than later.
When AI Playlist becomes available on your Android or iOS device, you’ll access it through “Your Library” and then tap the “+” symbol. Select “AI Playlist” and unleash your creativity by describing your desired mood. For instance, you could type “music for studying on a chilly afternoon” and the AI Playlist will then craft a 30-song playlist tailored to your description. Further refinement is possible with prompts like “include more sad songs.” Once satisfied, save your freshly curated playlist with the “create” option. If you’re having funny ideas, well, be warned that Spotify will place safeguards in place to filter out potentially offensive prompts.
During the testing phase, Spotify wants users to experiment with diverse prompts mixing genres, moods, artists, decades, and even colors and emojis for optimal results. Spotify also notes that AI Playlist can reference places, animals, activities, or movie characters to add a unique touch. As the feature evolves, Spotify promises continued improvements over the coming months.
As someone who uses Spotify a lot and often finds it challenging to fine-tune my playlists to my liking, I think this will be a convenient way for me to assemble perfect playlists while simultaneously discovering new music. In contrast to Spotify’s AI DJ, which I rarely use and heavily relies on your comprehensive listening history, AI Playlist promises greater control over the curated selections.
While pricing details remain unconfirmed, this new feature could align with Spotify’s anticipated price increase later this year. Current Premium subscriptions begin at Kshs 149 per month (students) or Kshs 299 (individuals). Updates on the expansion of this beta feature to Kenya and other regions are pending.
