Spotify rolls out generative AI tools for podcasts and audiobooks
Premium subscribers in select markets gain access to podcast chatbots and personalised audio generation, while Audiobooks+ receives expanded tiers and AI-driven playlist capabilities this summer.
Spotify announced a suite of new generative AI capabilities for its podcast and audiobook services during its recent investor day, signalling a strategic push to integrate artificial intelligence more deeply into its content consumption model. The updates include a new podcast chatbot and a personalised audio generator, designed to allow users to interact with content without leaving the platform.
Premium users in the United States, Sweden, and Ireland can now utilise a chatbot feature to ask questions about podcast episodes for clarification or context. The company stated that the tool enables listeners to delve deeper into content without navigating away from Spotify, a move that aligns with broader industry efforts by firms such as Google to construct walled gardens that retain users within their digital ecosystems.
A more significant addition is the 'personal podcasts' generator, which will become available to US Premium users next month. This tool allows subscribers to create custom audio briefings, explainers, or local concert updates using prompts, text, PDFs, and links. The feature draws on the user’s Spotify taste profile and world knowledge, with generated episodes saved privately in the user’s library and schedulable for daily or weekly generation via the new Studio by Spotify Labs desktop app.
To manage usage, Spotify has implemented a monthly credit system for the personal podcasts generator. Eligible users will receive a set number of credits as part of their subscription, with the option to purchase additional credits if limits are exceeded. The specific number of included credits and the pricing for top-ups have not been disclosed.
Audiobooks+ is also set to receive updates this summer, including expanded listening time limits, new family and student plans, and 'Prompted Playlists'. Currently, Premium members receive 15 hours of listening time per month, with options to buy top-ups. The new Prompted Playlists feature will generate audiobook selections based on user descriptions, listening history, and global context, further integrating generative AI into the audio experience.
