Spotify launches AI “DJ” function with voiceover

Spotify has launched an AI DJ function with “stunningly realistic” voiceover. This latest development allows users to listen to bespoke selections tailored to their tastes while learning about the music. 

Announced this week, the offering builds on the streaming service’s existing personalisation technology, which selects what is heard next based on regular plays. Initially rolled out in beta, by choosing DJ mode from the Music Feed menu on the Home screen, account holders can now be served playlists curated just for them including new releases and tracks unearthed from their account history.

Generative AI, informed by the platform’s team of editors, powers an automated ‘presenter’ which introduces each song, and provides commentary relevant to that specific release. The human-like tones are derived from the Sonantic dynamic AI voice system Spotify acquired last year, and based on Head of Cultural Partnerships Xavier ‘X’ Jernigan, who previously hosted the platform’s personalised morning show, ‘The Get Up’.

“We have experts in genres who know music and culture inside and out. And no one knows the music scene better than they do. With this generative AI tooling, our editors are able to scale their innate knowledge in ways never before possible,” Spotify said in an official statement on its website. “The DJ knows you and your music taste so well that it will scan the latest releases we know you’ll like, or take you back to that nostalgic playlist you had on repeat last year.” 

Earlier this month, Spotify became the first streaming platform to hit 200million paid subscribers, recording a 14% increase on 2021.