I’ve been using Spotify’s AI DJ for several weeks now, diligently allowing Spotify’s AI algorithm to guide my audio experience each day.
It’s been a good ride for the most part—but there are some improvements that Spotify could make to its AI DJ that would make it brilliant and open it up to more users.
1. Customizable Ranges, Inputs, and Personalization
In my day-to-day, I listen to a great deal of electronic music, spanning the many diverse genres under that tag. But I also listen to many other types of music, and in my ten years using Spotify, have listened to an enormous range.
But as my recent listening history is weighted toward electronic music more than anything else, Spotify’s AI DJ defaults to this. Now, for the most part, this is fine; I’m hearing good music, many tracks of which are familiar.
However, some more variety from my back catalog of musical history would be useful. I don’t think it has given me a set of tracks from anything I listened to earlier than 2019 when it flashed up and played some of my favorite tracks from that year (note, favorite tracksplayedthat year—not that it won’t play tracks from previous generations). Having the option to broaden the scope of the AI DJ would be useful to stop it from becoming stale.
Another way Spotify AI DJ could improve ever so slightly is more personalization. Would it be so hard to hear your name or user name during the set? It might get overbearing, of course, but it would be another personal touch the AI DJ brings to each “set.”
2. Direct Input
Following on from the above, there isn’t really a way to interact with the AI DJ other than to move it forward or skip a section of AI tracks from its selection.
But nudging the AI DJ every now and then to say I want more of this or less of this would be useful. These inputs are available everywhere else on Spotify—the Plus button (formerly the heart icon) and the “Not interested” remove button. All the AI DJ has is the “Get some different DJ picks button,” found down by the volume bar.
3. A Range of DJ Voices
Spotify’s AI DJ is voiced by the company’s Head of Cultural Partnerships, Xavier “X” Jernigan. Anyone who has tried the AI DJ will be familiar with his “It’s your DJ, X” line—but what if there were other options?
There are nownumerous AI voice generators, along withtools like ElevenLabs, that can create an AI voice from your own. It would take some training to train a new AI voice on the millions of tracks and artists available on Spotify, but nothing that isn’t achievable with the advances in AI tech. With sufficient advanced technology, anyone could become a unique Spotify AI DJ!
4. Bring the AI DJ to Spotify Blend
Spotify Blend automatically creates a new playlistby matching your audio interests with a friend. But wouldn’t it be great if you could blend your musical interests with a friend or two for the AI DJ to pick and choose from and keep playing?
Larger Spotify Blend playlists are available, which does somewhat fulfill this role, I will concede. But having the AI DJ able to mix from a wider range of audio sources would be a great addition.
5. Make the Spotify AI DJ Easier to Find
It’s not always immediately clear where orhow to access the AI DJ, depending on your platform. First up, the AI DJ is only available to those with a Premium account, however you have that access. So if you’re using a free Spotify account, the AI DJ won’t appear anyway.
For those with access, you’ve probably gone to use the Spotify AI DJ in the web browser player, only to find that you can’t find the option. The workaround for this is to open the AI DJ on the Spotify app on your smartphone and then switch the listening device. However, you don’t get the AI DJ overlay or options, and it appears to be just a regular playlist. Better unity across the platforms would be another useful addition.
Have You Tried the Spotify AI DJ?
The Spotify AI DJ is a handy tool for Spotify users. I’ve used it extensively, and it’s great when I can’t be bothered to trawl through playlists to find something I want to listen to or even think of a band I want to hear at that moment in time.
But with a few tweaks, the Spotify AI DJ could be even better!
