Ahead of the Stream On event, Spotify has introduced a new AI feature called “DJ”. The company aims to enhance the music listening experience by delivering a curated selection of music along with spoken commentary about the tracks and artists you like, using a realistic voice powered by AI.
An AI DJ in Your Pocket
Spotify’s “DJ” feature is designed to learn user preferences so well that it can choose what to play when you hit the button. It allows users to sit back and relax while Spotify curates a personalized music experience, just like a radio DJ.
Spotify’s Leading Personalization Technology
Spotify has always been a frontrunner in personalization technology, introducing its flagship playlist Discover Weekly back in 2015. The platform has since launched a host of other playlists, catering to users’ unique preferences, including Release Radar, Daily Mixes, Your Time Capsule, Blend, and activity-based playlists.
Only Available in Beta Testing
The OpenAI-powered feature is currently in beta testing and is only available in English for Spotify Premium subscribers in the U.S. and Canada.
Leveraging AI Advances
As the wider technology market focuses on new ways to leverage AI, it was only a matter of time before Spotify rolled out its own AI-powered personalization experience.
With “DJ”, Spotify aims to make listening to music a lean-back, passive experience for those who don’t feel like dictating what to stream or fumbling around with the interface.
Spotify’s Stream On event, scheduled for February 22, is expected to introduce other updates, including a redesigned home feed.
Spotify’s New AI Feature: DJ
Ahead of Spotify’s Stream On event, the company has launched a new AI-powered feature called “DJ.” This new feature offers a personalized music listening experience for users by delivering a curated selection of music and spoken commentary about the tracks and artists users like.
How Does the DJ Feature Work?
Similar to a radio DJ, the AI-powered DJ feature gets to know users so well that it can choose what to play for them when they hit the button. This puts an “AI DJ in your pocket,” according to Spotify.
The DJ feature uses a combination of Spotify’s existing personalization technology, an AI voice from its 2022 Sonantic acquisition, and Generative AI through the use of OpenAI technology. Spotify’s music editors, experts, scriptwriters, and data curators have access to OpenAI’s Generative AI tech to scale their insights about music, artists, and genres.
What to Expect from the DJ Feature?
As listeners engage with the DJ feature, they’ll receive a personalized stream of songs that will include newer tracks and old favorites. This stream will be continually refreshed. As they listen, they’ll also hear commentary directly followed by the song it’s referring to.
If the DJ feature misses the mark in terms of what someone wants to hear, the user can tap the DJ button again to shift to a different genre, artist, or mood. The more the feature is used, the more accurate its suggestions will become — similar to how song skips or liking a track would otherwise inform an algorithm of a user’s interests.
Availability
The DJ feature is still in beta testing as of the time of its launch and is currently only available in English for Spotify Premium subscribers in the U.S. and Canada.
Conclusion
In conclusion, Spotify’s new ‘DJ’ feature is set to offer listeners a personalized music experience with AI-powered commentary, creating a unique listening experience.
By leveraging its existing personalization technology and partnering with OpenAI, Spotify aims to provide culturally relevant and accurate pieces of commentary at scale.
