Spotify DJ: The AI-powered DJ Songs feature uses OpenAI technology
2 min read
Spotify has put a Robot DJ into its app — a computerized song-spinner with a “stunningly realistic” voice that queues up music based on your music tastes and listening history.
The beta version of DJ is rolling out in English starting Wednesday for Spotify Premium users in the US and Canada.
Spotify, of course, already has numerous personalized-listening features on the service, including its Daily Mix and Discovery Weekly auto-generated playlists. What’s different about DJ is that it combines Spotify’s personalization technology with generative AI by using technology from OpenAI (the company behind the ChatGPT chatbot). Spotify said it has put AI technology into the hands of its music editors “to provide insightful information about the music, artists or genres you’re listening to,” according to the company.
Also, just like a human DJ, Spotify’s DJ provides running commentary about the tracks and artists it’s playing. The feature uses an AI text-to-speech engine from Spotify’s acquisition of Sonantic last year. To model the voice in DJ’s initial release, the company turned to its head of cultural partnerships, Xavier “X” Jernigan, who previously served as one of the hosts of Spotify’s first (and personalized) morning show, “The Gate.” Above Jernigan Its Voice is the first model for DJs, and “we will continue to iterate and innovate as we do with all of our products,” Spotify said.
Based on your music-taste profile, Spotify DJ will scan new releases that it predicts you’ll like or revisit songs you’ve played on repeat in the past. The feature constantly refreshes the lineup based on your feedback. If you’re not in a playlist playing a DJ, you can click the “DJ” button to jump to the next genre or mood.
The new feature is “a generative, expressive and realistic AI DJ that delivers a personalized lineup of music and commentary to each user, for those times when you don’t know exactly what you want to hear,” tweeted Spotify chief R&D officer Gustav Söderström.
How to find Spotify DJ:
- Go to your music feed at home in the Spotify mobile app on your iOS or Android device.
- Tap Play on the DJ card.
- This is the end! The DJ will stream a line-up of personalized music along with brief comments from the songs and artists.
- To change the genre, artist or mood, you press the DJ button at the bottom right of the screen.
Check out Spotify’s introductory video for DJs:
