The Swedish streaming giant has a new additional function ready for its users: a DJ feature based on artificial intelligence (AI). Based on the listening habits of the users, the Spotify DJ creates individual mixes and peppers them with pop culture facts and comments. The feature is only available in the US and Canada for now.
AI-DJ creates even more personal music mixes
In concrete terms, thanks to an AI, the built-in DJ function should select pieces of music that correspond to the personal taste of the users. Spotify uses its proven internal personalization technology, which makes music recommendations.
Based on the favorite pieces, the listening history and the feedback from the users, the AI continuously improves the suggestions. For example, users can change the music style with a click if they don’t like the current sound. In this way, the AI is always learning and adapting to the individual needs of the users.
Spotify DJ comments like a radio host
In addition, the Spotify DJ occasionally moderates the pieces, comments and tells details relevant to pop culture. The artificial intelligence behind the DJ voice comes from Sonantic.
The London startup, bought by Spotify in 2022, develops artificial intelligence that processes text into voice. The AI emulates the voice of well-known Spotify Morning Show host Xavier “X” Jernigan for the DJ feature. In the future there will be more voices to choose from.
Two artificial intelligences
Spotify also uses a second AI for its DJ: Microsoft’s OpenAI, which is used by ChatGPT, among others, is responsible for the content of the DJ comments. To do this, she processes the textual input from music and culture experts, who gather useful information about the pieces of music and the musicians in weekly editorial meetings.
In addition to the additional information already available in the app, such as lyrics, concert dates, etc., this should offer other relevant details about the artists and their works.
Discontinued Spotify external DJ function
The new function comes as no surprise to some. In the past, Spotify offered its users to use the streamed songs in third-party DJ apps. So DJs could continue to use Spotify songs on external platforms such as Djay. In 2020 this function was discontinued. Even then, some media such as The Verge asked whether Spotify might be working on its own internal DJ tool.
Now that guess has come true. For the Launch in Europe and Austria no official date is known yet. Spotify has not yet responded to a brutkasten request.
