Meet X: Spotify’s New AI DJ
Spotify recently released a new feature on their platform: an artificial intelligence DJ. After seeing a video about this new feature on TikTok, I was super excited to try it out.
As of right now, Spotify’s AI DJ, or “X,” is only available to users who pay for Spotify Premium. It is still in its Beta stage, so users can expect it to only get better with time.
The DJ plays five songs, with a short commentary before and after each set. According to Spotify, “the more you listen and tell the DJ what you like (and don’t like!), the better its recommendations get.” The DJ has an option on the bottom right of the screen, with a blue and green icon, to skip the section of music. This helps the AI learn your music taste and give you songs that you’ll actually like.
I wanted to test out the DJ and see how well it worked. To get an accurate representation of X’s abilities, I listened to it over about four days. I took notes on the songs it played and what description it gave of them.
For example, it says something along the lines of “Up next, here is an artist you’ve been feeling for the past few days,” and plays strictly Harry Styles. Or “Now I’m gonna play you some early 2000’s emo, starting with My Chemical Romance,” and it plays songs like “Thank You for the Venom" (by My Chemical Romance) and “Anywhere With You” (by Saves the Day).
I also tried to listen to a majority of the songs it recommended, to see if I actually enjoyed its recommendations. If not, I would just skip them with no problem.
At first, I really enjoyed listening to this AI DJ. It would give me a great mix of music that I currently listen to, with a few new artists and songs that still fit the vibe. Songs like “Karma,” by Taylor Swift, “Another Man’s Jeans,” by Ashe, and “Jackie Onassis,” by Sammy Rae & the Friends.
I did find that sometimes the categories it picked, didn’t have the correct music in the category. For example, the category was classical music but it played “Wishing You Were Somehow Here Again,” from “The Phantom of the Opera.”
Sometimes X would give me really weird categories that I normally wouldn’t listen to, like 2000’s emo or songs from the 60’s. However, some of the songs it played that I normally don’t listen to were actually enjoyable.
Overall, I liked using Spotify’s AI DJ. I plan on still using it, especially since the longer you use the DJ, the more accurate it becomes. I definitely think users who have access to this feature should give it a try.
Rachel Hord is a third-year majoring in telecommunications. To contact her, email rkh5399@psu.edu.
