What is the new ‘AI DJ’ feature on Spotify and who is the voice behind it?

AI DJ is the next step in Spotify’s ongoing quest to personalise their user’s listening experiences. The AI DJ chooses a stream of songs it believes user will enjoy based on their listening history, and a DJ type voice commentary around recommended tracks and artists.

According to the company’s statistics, over 50% of first-time listeners in the US returned to use DJ the following day after trying it out, demonstrating how well-liked the upgrade has been.

How does AI DJ work?

Spotify DJ gives its users a fresh perspective on their own preferences by sifting through the newest releases as well as resurrecting their old favourites. According to Spotify, the way its newest feature operates is by combining the following methods:

Personalisation technology – This engine suggests reccomended songs to you depending on your musical preferences.

Generative AI – through the use of OpenAI technology. This was put in the hands of Spotify’s music editors to provide users with insightful facts about the music, artists, or genres they’re listening to.

AI Voice –  A realistic voice is generated from text using Sonantic’s dynamic AI voice platform. Spotify purchased Sonantic, an AI firm, last year. The technology employed by the corporation was in charge of creating lifelike AI voices, such as the one that Val Kilmer used in Top Gun: Maverick.

When speaking to inews.co.uk, a Spotify spokesperson explained the premise of AI DJ:

“It will sort through the latest music and look back at some of your old favourites – maybe even resurfacing that song you haven’t listened to for years. It will then review what you might enjoy and deliver a stream of songs picked just for you. And what’s more, it constantly refreshes the line-up based on your feedback.

If you’re not feeling the vibe, just tap the DJ button and it will switch it up. The more you listen and tell the DJ what you like (and don’t like!), the better its recommendations get. Think of it as the very best of Spotify’s personalisation—but as an AI DJ in your pocket.”

Who is the voice of the Spotify AI DJ?

Spotify’s head of Cultural Partnerships, Xavier ‘X’ Jernigan, served as the inspiration for the voice of the AI DJ. Jernigan hosts a number of Spotify podcasts, such as “The Window,” “Showstopper,” and the now-cancelled “The Get Up,” in addition to his main position at the company. Therefore, Jernigan is rather accustomed to having millions of listeners hear his voice.

When speaking to TechCrunch, Jernigan explained that Spotify chose him to be the voice of the AI DJ due to his “voice and personality resonating with a lot of our listeners already”.

“I got pitched on being this voice model for DJ and my mind was blown when it was explained to me, imagine if you’re hearing this for the first time you don’t have anything to look at and I’m just like, ‘Wait, what? It’s gonna be me but it’s not me, and it’s text and voice, but it’ll sound like me, and it’s AI? For me, it was a new experience working with AI in this way. I was just blown away”.

Jernigan described the steps involved in training the AI, which involved spending time in the studio, reading aloud from a script, and speaking with different tones and cadences to represent different emotions.

In order for the AI DJ to sound as authentic as possible, Jernigan would have to record specific words that only he uses and all of his natural pauses and breaths were left in the final product.

How to access and use Spotify’s AI DJ

Follow these steps to get started with Spotify’s AI DJ:

1. To begin, tap the DJ tile or banner on the Spotify app or desktop home screen.
2. Select ‘Play’
3. Now here’s the clever bit – Spotify’s AI DJ will now take the wheel, and start playing the tunes that are most suited to you, and offer a brief analysis.
4. If you don’t feel the vibes of the current playlist that has been curated for you, press the DJ icon located in the lower-right corner of the screen, and the AI DJ will change it up!

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