Spotify has just announced that it has partnered with ChatGPT to allow its users to create playlists and get personalized recommendations. Amid its arsenal of improving, built-in AI features, this move is a big step for the music streaming platform.
How do you integrate Spotify with ChatGPT, and what can you use it for? Is it actually as promising as it sounds, and does it hold a candle to Spotify’s existing AI features? Here’s all you need to know.
The ChatGPT Spotify Integration
Spotify has an expanding arsenal of AI features, from the AI DJ to an AI-powered playlist creation feature. Now, the streaming platform has taken its AI integration a step further through its partnership with the most prominent AI chatbot on the scene. From October 6, users can bring Spotify into their conversations with ChatGPT and connect their Spotify account and listening history to the chatbot. This will let users input Spotify-specific prompts and get recommendations for music and podcasts from ChatGPT.
What Does This Integration Do?
When you connect your Spotify account to ChatGPT, any Spotify-related prompts will then be answered based on factors like your library, artists you follow, and most importantly, your listening history on all your devices (and Spotify Connect).
Once connected, ChatGPT will be able to:
- Stream and control your Spotify in the ChatGPT app
- Control Spotify on your devices
- Add and remove items in your Spotify Library
- Create, edit, and follow private playlists
- Manage who you follow
Mainly, the integration is best used for creating playlists and getting recommendations. Much like the AI Playlist you see on the Spotify app, the ChatGPT integration can create a playlist from your prompt (the more specific, the better) and refine it according to your follow-up prompts. Since all prompts are answered based on your Spotify activity and history, the recommendations and playlists you get will be closely aligned to your tastes. A ChatGPT-generated Spotify playlist can then be clicked on and opened directly in the Spotify app, where you can save and further edit it.
How to Connect Your Spotify Account to ChatGPT
To connect your Spotify Account to ChatGPT, open and log in to ChatGPT’s app or browser. Start a new conversation with a prompt that addresses Spotify (“Spotify, can you create a travel playlist for my trip to Montreal?”). Addressing your prompt to Spotify directly seems to be more foolproof than simply asking ChatGPT for Spotify recommendations.
Then, ChatGPT will automatically give you an option to connect to Spotify. Clicking “Continue” will lead to another dialog box, where you can click “Continue to Spotify.” This will take you to another window (on desktop) or the Spotify app, where you can agree to the terms of the integration. Then, simply go back to ChatGPT, where your prompt will be answered with Spotify-specific information (recommendations) or a Spotify playlist.
After connecting with the Spotify app, ChatGPT will then bring up Spotify in your conversation (based on your specific prompts) and create playlists that can be opened on Spotify.
Track or podcast recommendations given on ChatGPT, too, can be opened on Spotify using the in-chat widgets that pop up.
My first experience with testing out the integration was not the best. Despite addressing my prompt to Spotify and getting the Spotify log-in option, there was an error with generating playlists directly in the conversation. I had to log out of my ChatGPT account, refresh my browser, and log in again, and was able to successfully link my account. Since this partnership is in its early stages, you may run into trouble connecting your Spotify account to ChatGPT or getting very accurate playlists and recommendations, so a little bit of patience will get you playlists and recommendations in seconds.
Who Can Use This Integration?
The Spotify integration for ChatGPT is available for both Spotify Free and Premium users. As long as you have your Spotify login credentials ready, you’re all set to link your streaming account to ChatGPT. Free users will be able to source from Spotify’s catalog of playlists already available on the app, such as Discover Weekly and New Music Friday, while Premium users can create playlists from scratch using ChatGPT.
Is the Integration Good?
While the integration is convenient for creating playlists and getting recommendations for Spotify, it does not do anything out of the box. Playlist creation using AI is already available in the Spotify mobile app through the AI Playlist feature, which does the same thing that the ChatGPT integration carries out. The AI Playlist feature is also available in the app, so you don’t even have to bother opening another app or a browser to carry out the same function.
For desktop or web app Spotify users, however, who do not have access to the AI Playlist feature on Spotify yet, the ChatGPT integration can be of use for quick playlist creation. Since the playlist also directly opens on the desktop app, it’s a helpful feature — but if you’re using Spotify on multiple devices, including your phone, then it can feel a little redundant.
I tested out if the integration allows for folder creation with multiple playlists, which ChatGPT cannot do currently, although it does create separate playlists. Given time and improvements, if ChatGPT can carry out unique functions related to Spotify, however, this integration could prove useful to regular Spotify and ChatGPT users.
As for the recommendations that ChatGPT can provide through the Spotify integration, the tracks recommended are typically what you may see in Spotify playlists like Discover Weekly or through the AI DJ (which, granted, has a lot of room for improvement). And given that the integration is still new, the recommendations may not always be on point.
Spotify’s recommendations, which may be a little inconsistent, are still personalized and being refined every day. I’ve been able to discover new songs and artists using the streaming app’s built-in features, so personally, ChatGPT’s recommendations don’t do a lot for me. The podcast recommendations are useful, since the widget list of recommendations is easy to navigate. However, for Spotify Free or new users, the recommendations may come in handy as they explore new music and podcasts.
There’s also an option to click a “+” (plus) sign within a ChatGPT conversation to update your Spotify library in real-time. Since the integration can edit your library, which has the potential for cleaning up your music or adding new music through interlinked conversations in ChatGPT, for instance.
Alternatives for ChatGPT Integration
If you’re not a big fan of ChatGPT or the integration features, don’t fret: many third-party apps can integrate with Spotify to further finetune and personalize your listening experience. These apps access your Spotify listening history and provide recommendations, give a snapshot of your favorite music, and even create playlists for you to use. PlaylistAI, for instance, helps create Spotify playlists, either through ChatGPT, the web, or through its app for iOS users. You can also use apps like Stats.fm to get a deep look into your Spotify stats, or last.fm to map your listening history and find personalized recommendations.
Using a combination of these apps has helped me refine my Spotify listening experience by leaps and bounds, but if the ChatGPT integration sounds like your cup of tea, then using the right prompts can generate extremely personalized recommendations.
ChatGPT’s recent integration with apps like Spotify and Canva has been a long-time coming, given the AI chatbot’s popularity and compatibility with several apps and websites. With music streaming platforms ramping up their generative AI efforts and features, however, only time and improvements will tell if the partnership was the right move.
