Spotify launches AI playlists on demand and lets you control its algorithm

Spotify has launched a beta feature called Prompted Playlists, which allows users to generate playlists via text queries. The new tool has launched in New Zealand and prompts users to specify both a detailed and minimal description of the music they want, after which the AI will compile a selection based on the guidelines and listening history.

How Prompted Playlists work

In contrast to the automatic Discover Weekly, the new feature allows you to influence track selection in detail. You can specify mood, genre, theme, era, or any other parameters, and the algorithm will generate a playlist based on those inputs. In addition, the ability to regularly update the selection based on the same request is available, effectively turning the feature into a “personalized” Discover Weekly.

Spotify previously added the ability to prioritize genres in Discover Weekly, but a broad user-driven algorithm was not available.

Part of a larger course on personalization

Prompted Playlists continues the evolution of AI services inside Spotify. The AI DJ received an update in the spring – users can now give it voice commands. Other platforms in the industry are taking similar steps: Instagram* recently allowed users to tell the algorithm their preferences directly.

* Owned by Meta, it is recognized as an extremist organization in Russia and its activities are banned.