Spotify is investing heavily in artificial intelligence (AI) to create and curate podcasts, hoping to gain an edge over its rivals in the booming audio industry. The music-streaming giant has acquired several AI start-ups and hired top talent in the field, aiming to use AI to generate new content, personalize recommendations, and improve audio quality.
One of Spotify’s most ambitious projects is Greenroom, a live audio app that allows users to host and join conversations on various topics, similar to Clubhouse. Spotify plans to use AI to transcribe, edit, and distribute the live audio sessions as podcasts, as well as to moderate the content and filter out unwanted noise.
Another initiative is Soundtrap, a cloud-based platform that enables users to create and collaborate on podcasts, music, and other audio projects. Soundtrap uses AI to assist users with tasks such as editing, mixing, mastering, and adding sound effects.
Spotify is also experimenting with AI to generate original content, such as music, lyrics, and podcasts. For example, Spotify has partnered with Anchor, a podcast creation app, to launch a feature called Music + Talk, which allows users to combine songs from Spotify’s catalog with their own commentary. Spotify has also developed an AI system that can create playlists based on the mood, genre, and tempo of a song.
Spotify’s AI efforts are part of its broader strategy to become the world’s leading audio platform, competing with the likes of Apple, Amazon, and Google. Spotify has more than 400 million monthly active users and over 100 million podcast listeners, making it the largest music-streaming service and the second-largest podcast platform in the world.
However, Spotify faces several challenges and risks in its AI endeavors. One is the ethical and legal implications of using AI to create and manipulate audio content, such as the potential for plagiarism, misinformation, and deepfakes. Another is the quality and diversity of the content, as AI may not be able to capture the nuances, creativity, and emotions of human creators. A third is the user experience and satisfaction, as AI may not be able to cater to the preferences, tastes, and expectations of different audiences.
Spotify is aware of these challenges and is working to address them. For instance, Spotify has established an AI Ethics Board to oversee its AI projects and ensure they adhere to its values and principles. Spotify has also launched a Creator Fund to support and reward human podcasters who use its AI tools. Spotify has also invested in improving its recommendation algorithms and personalization features, such as Discover Weekly and Daily Mix, to offer users more choice and variety.
Spotify’s AI strategy is bold and ambitious, but also risky and uncertain. Whether it will pay off or backfire remains to be seen. But one thing is clear: Spotify is not afraid to experiment and innovate with AI, and that could give it a competitive advantage in the fast-changing and crowded audio market.