Spotify launches ChatGPT-like AI chat for Premium users

Spotify is taking another step to infuse AI technology into its listening experience: starting Tuesday, Premium users can have interactive conversations with the app to choose what music or other audio they want to hear. The feature is initially available in the U.S., Ireland, and Sweden, across iOS and Android, for users 18 years old and above, in English. It’s a beta release, meaning things may not always work perfectly, but Spotify says user feedback will help improve the product.

The addition is the latest example of how Spotify has put AI technology to use to help users navigate its extensive catalog of music, podcasts, and audiobooks. Spotify didn’t explicitly detail the AI technology behind the feature in its announcement, but it confirmed to TechCrunch that it uses a mix of its own AI technology and models from multiple providers, chosen based on whatever fits the task best. The addition builds on Spotify’s existing AI tools, including its AI DJ — which speaks in an AI voice users can engage with directly — prompt-based playlist building, and the ability to connect Spotify with third-party AI chatbots such as ChatGPT.

The new feature extends the ability to chat with Spotify beyond the AI DJ experience, letting users talk to the app across its Home and Now Playing views on mobile. Users can type or speak and have back-and-forth conversations to help decide what to play next; Spotify says the app can also discuss listening history and help users learn more about their favorite music, podcasts, or audiobooks — including what inspired a certain song, album release dates, or suggestions for other artists based on what’s playing.

Spotify suggests prompts like “play some artists I haven’t heard before,” which users can refine with follow-ups — adding a specific artist by name, narrowing to more recent tracks, or asking for a more upbeat selection. Users can also ask Spotify to save songs, add them to a queue, or follow an artist through the new feature, which is rolling out now to the eligible markets on mobile.

Why it matters

Spotify’s push into conversational AI, layered on top of its AI DJ and prompt-based playlists, positions the app to compete more directly with AI chat assistants for how people discover and interact with music and audio.