YouTube Music is testing AI music hosts that provide relevant stories, fan trivia, and commentary about what you’re listening to. The company announced the new feature on Friday as the first experiment in a new hub called YouTube Labs, an initiative “dedicated to exploring the potential of AI on YouTube.” This move comes two years after Spotify launched its own AI DJ feature, which offers a curated selection of music alongside AI-powered spoken commentary.
YouTube’s new AI hosts are currently being tested with a limited number of U.S.-based participants, but Premium subscribers are given priority access to test the experimental features. A blog post from the company said the hosts are designed to “deepen your listening experience by sharing relevant stories, fan trivia, and fun commentary about your favorite music.” Users can either choose to listen to the commentary or snooze it for an hour or a full day. The company has warned that the “AI commentary can contain mistakes” as it is still in the experimental stage.
A Competitive Response and a Broader AI Push
The new AI hosts are the latest in a series of AI-focused features YouTube has been rolling out. Earlier this month, the company released a series of AI features for creators, including GenAI tools for Shorts creation. A few months ago, YouTube launched an AI-powered search results carousel similar to Google’s AI Overviews and expanded access to its conversational AI tool to help users find more information and get video summaries.
While YouTube is embracing AI features, it is also cracking down on “AI slop.” The platform recently updated its policies to crack down on creators’ ability to generate revenue from “inauthentic” content, including mass-produced videos and other types of repetitive content. This is a clear signal that the company is trying to balance the growth of AI-powered content with the need to maintain quality on the platform.
Author’s Opinion
This new feature marks a significant and necessary step for YouTube Music to remain competitive. While Spotify was first to market with an AI DJ, YouTube’s approach of providing commentary on a user’s own listening choices is a clever way to differentiate itself. This race for the “voice” of AI music shows that the future of music streaming is not just about having a large library but about creating a personalized and engaging experience that makes a listener feel understood. It’s a battle to see which company can not only predict what you want to hear, but also tell you a story about it, making the AI a central part of the listening experience itself.
Featured image credit: PickPik
For more stories like it, click the +Follow button at the top of this page to follow us.