Apple Music Will Soon Let You Generate Playlists With AI

Over the years, Apple Music has improved its algorithmic playlists. There is now an AI DJ and you can use ChatGPT to generate playlists. With iOS 26.4, currently in beta, Apple wants you to be able to create playlists with its own AI technology. The next update includes a feature called “Playlist Playground,” which lets you generate AI playlists directly in the Apple Music app, provided you’re using iOS 26.4.

How to download and install iOS 26.4

I don’t recommend installing and running beta versions of iOS on your primary iPhone. The beta software is unfinished, which means you might encounter bugs and issues that could impact the way you use your iPhone or even cause data loss. If you’re keen to try out new features, it’s best to make sure you’ve made a full backup of your iPhone first. This way you can always revert to an old installation if something goes wrong. Still, it’s safer to run testing software on a backup iPhone rather than your daily driver.

That said, if you’re sure you want to install iOS 26.4 right now, you can go to Settings > General > Software Update on your iPhone. Select Beta Updates > iOS 26 Developer Beta. Now go back to the Software Update page and wait for iOS 26.4 Beta 1 to appear. You can now download and install the update to try this new Apple Music feature.

How to Create AI-Generated Playlists in Apple Music

Once you’re on iOS 26.4, you can open the Music app to get started with this feature. Tap the Library tab in the bottom bar, then select the New Playlist button in the upper right corner. You should see the Playlist Playground feature here. (Note that this feature may not appear on devices that do not support Apple Intelligenceor if your Apple account is from a region where Apple has restricted the deployment of AI features.)

Once the feature is enabled, you will be able to generate playlists with AI. From there, you tell the AI ​​what you want to listen to. You can be specific, with certain artists, songs or genres, or request playlists that encompass a certain idea of ​​vibe. Apple offers pre-written prompts to get you started, such as “hip-hop party songs,” but you can also use your own text prompts. AI-generated playlists contain 25 songs by default and you have the option to further customize the playlist after it is created. You will also be able to edit the title, cover image, and description of AI-generated playlists. These playlists can be shared with others or displayed on your Apple Music profile, just like other playlists you create on the streaming service. Its concept is similar to that of other AI playlist generators on platforms like Spotify or YouTube Music.

Try AI-generated playlists without installing iOS 26.4

While Apple Music’s Playlist Playground feature is a good start, it’s not yet available for those of us who don’t want to install developer betas of iOS 26. If that’s you, there are other options for AI-generated Apple Music playlists. There is of course the aforementioned ChatGPT integration, but you can also use a third-party app, like PlaylistAI. It has plenty of prompts to get started and can even generate playlists from music festival posters. The app prompts you to sign up for a subscription, but you can skip this prompt and use the free tier to quickly generate a playlist.