Spotify’s Prompted Playlists use AI to control your algorithm

A new beta feature on Spotify takes the idea behind the Discover Weekly playlist and puts control in the hands of users via AI prompts. Guest playlists, which initially launch in New Zealand on Thursday, allow users to enter exactly what they want to listen to, in as much or little detail as they want. Then, Spotify’s AI curates a playlist based on these instructions and the user’s listening history.

Users can also set guest playlists to refresh regularly with new songs based on the same prompt, allowing you to create a weekly Discover playlist with an algorithm that you control. Earlier this year, Discover Weekly playlists had options to prioritize certain genres, but users can’t direct the playlist’s algorithm beyond that.

Guest playlists are part of a broader effort to give users more control over Spotify — the streamer’s DJ AI received a similar update in May that allows users to give it voice prompts. It also mirrors similar moves on other platforms, like Instagram, which recently announced a feature allowing users to tell its algorithm what they’re interested in.