Spotify Tests Prompted Playlists to Put AI-Driven Music Discovery in Users’ Hands

Spotify has started testing a new AI feature called Prompted Playlists, aiming to give listeners more direct control over how music recommendations work. The feature lets users describe what they want to hear in natural language, then uses AI to generate a custom playlist based on that input.

What are Prompted Playlists

Prompted Playlists allow users to create playlists by typing simple text prompts. Instead of relying only on algorithmic recommendations, listeners can actively steer the experience by describing a mood, activity, genre, or vibe.

Users can enter prompts for workout sessions, relaxing evenings, or specific energy levels. Spotify’s AI then builds a playlist that reflects the prompt and the user’s long-term listening habits.

How the feature works

The system combines AI with Spotify’s recommendation engine. It analyzes a user’s full listening history instead of focusing only on recent activity. Spotify also blends in broader music trends and contextual data to refine results.

Users can update prompts over time to refresh playlists. Some versions of the test also support automatic updates, which let playlists evolve daily or weekly without starting over.

Who can access it right now

Spotify is rolling out Prompted Playlists as a limited beta. The test currently targets Spotify Premium users in New Zealand. The company has not confirmed when it will expand to other regions.

Why Spotify is pushing this change

Spotify positions Prompted Playlists as a way to give users more control over recommendations. Instead of passively accepting suggestions, listeners can directly influence what the system serves them.

The test also builds on Spotify’s recent AI initiatives, including AI DJ and AI-generated playlists. Together, these tools signal a broader push to keep music discovery fresh while increasing user engagement.

How this fits into the streaming landscape

Music streaming platforms increasingly rely on AI to personalize experiences and retain subscribers. By letting users actively guide recommendations, Spotify aims to stand out from more opaque discovery systems across the category.

What comes next

Spotify has not shared a public timeline for wider availability. The company will likely review performance and user feedback before it expands the test.

For now, Prompted Playlists remain an experiment. Still, the feature shows how Spotify plans to reshape music discovery with AI guided by user intent.