Spotify's AI DJ Might Actually Be Useful Soon

Contents

Do AI DJs dream of electric sheep sound effects?

Don’t believe the hype: High-resolution audio isn’t worth it

Summary

Spotify’s AI DJ now takes requests for playlist mood and specific music, showing dedication to enhancing AI implementation.
While user opinions on AI interactivity vary, new features like instant mood changes and voice searching subtly increase convenience.
Spotify Premium users can access the DJ X by searching for “DJ” or via “Made for You,” and holding the DJ button to input voice prompts.

Remember VH1’s “Pop Up Video”? In the late ’90s, MTV’s sister station made music videos especially interesting by peppering them with pop-up song facts. Fast-forward a couple of decades into the streaming era, and distribution giant Spotify has employed powerful AI models to create themed playlists and tell you about certain songs you’re about to hear, and not much else.

Over two years after launching the AI DJ, Spotify is finally letting it take requests. A recent upgrade adds interactive functionality that lets you request a different playlist mood as well as specific music (Source: TechCrunch). While not the most mind-blowing advancements, the new features indicate the streaming behemoth is likely continuing to dedicate resources to refining its AI implementation.

Talking to AI about music

Do AI DJs dream of electric sheep sound effects?

The Spotify app showing the AI DJ main view.

DJ X, or DJ Livi as it’s known in Mexican Spanish, doesn’t have the most grating voice, but also hasn’t provided a ton of insight or novel functionality until now. Over its two-year existence, Spotify listeners have periodically taken to social media to criticize it as too similar to typical Spotify recommendations.

Of course, any automatic playlist generation feature will, necessarily, see refinements over time. A growing number of users enjoy DJ X’s contributions, and the update could bring its benefits to previously skeptical listeners. Instant mood changes and easy song searching by voice won’t revolutionize anybody’s streaming experience, but they do illustrate how LLMs and AI can subtly increase convenience in novel ways.

green spotify text on top of green and white patterned background

To access DJ X and its increasing capabilities, Spotify Premium users can simply search for “DJ” or access it by tapping “Made for You” in the search menu. Holding the DJ button that appears on the bottom right lets you record a voice prompt, and a quick tap on the icon switches up the playlist mood — based on what the AI model indicates you’re in the mood for, rather than any direct input. Only Premium subscribers can access the AI DJ.

Users have yet to reach a consensus on the newly expanded interactivity. When they do, expect Spotify to use that feedback to improve the feature. Alongside additional new tools for enhancing music discovery, better AI voice control could greatly increase the value of a Spotify subscription. Now, if it can ever complete the quest for a shuffle mode that doesn’t stink, then we’ll be impressed.