Spotify is adding more AI gunk for podcasts and audiobooks

Spotify

Spotify held its latest investor time arena connected Thursday. Among different things, it had immoderate updates to stock regarding podcasts and audiobooks. Of course, galore of these concerned generative AI features. 

For 1 thing, Spotify says you'll beryllium capable to inquire a chatbot questions astir a podcast section you're listening to successful bid to get clarification, much discourse aliases recommendations related to a big aliases guest. Premium users successful nan US, Sweden and Ireland are nan first to get entree to this characteristic starting today.

The institution is reasonably transparent astir why it's adding this feature. It says you'll beryllium capable to "delve deeper without leaving Spotify." That fits successful pinch different tech companies trying to conception walled gardens astir their ecosystems to discourage you from going anyplace other connected nan net to get information, arsenic Google is blatantly attempting pinch its AI-powered Search.

Spotify is besides expanding a characteristic that enables users to make "personal podcasts." It announced this instrumentality past period pinch nan action to use AI agents for illustration OpenClaw and Claude Code to whip up specified synthetic audio. The institution says it's adding a measurement for users to make individual podcasts straight wrong Spotify. It notes that, aft you participate a prompt, it will make audio that draws from factors for illustration your Spotify sensation floor plan and world knowledge. You tin besides provender successful text, PDFs and links to springiness nan instrumentality much discourse for what you'd for illustration to perceive about. (A caller desktop app called Studio by Spotify Labs ties into that).

These podcasts tin attraction connected things for illustration explainers connected a definite topic, regular briefings aliases updates connected section concerts featuring artists you're into. These audio episodes are saved successful your room privately, and you tin group up nan app to make episodes regular aliases weekly.

Spotify says eligible Premium users successful nan US will get entree to individual podcasts adjacent month. The institution added that users will person a group number of credits each period arsenic portion of their subscription, truthful there's a limit connected really galore individual podcasts you'll beryllium capable to make without paying extra. Inevitably, you tin bargain much credits if you desire.

Spotify

On a akin note, nan institution is set to introduce further add-on tiers for Audiobooks+. Premium members get 15 hours of audiobook listening included pinch their scheme each month. They tin buy much pinch Audiobooks+ top-ups. This summer, Spotify will commencement offering much Audiobooks+ options pinch higher listening clip limits. Family and student plans for Audiobooks+ are connected nan measurement later this twelvemonth too.

Lest you deliberation for 1 infinitesimal that Spotify's audiobooks were immune from nan plague of generative AI, nan institution is inevitably shoving specified features into that portion of nan level too. It's expanding nan Prompted Playlists characteristic that's disposable for euphony and podcasts to audiobooks. This instrumentality tin make a playlist based connected your explanation of what you want to perceive much of, your listening history and broader discourse of "what's happening successful nan world astir you." Prompted Playlists for audiobooks will beryllium disposable this summer.