Spotify’s AI DJ gets new voices and can talk less

Spotify has updated its AI DJ: Premium subscribers can now choose from new voices in English and Spanish, and reduce the number of comments between music selections. The feature is available in more than 95 countries and supports six languages. More than 94 million Spotify Premium listeners use the AI DJ.

Spotify adds new AI DJ voices and cuts back on commentary

The AI DJ launched in 2023 and remains one of Spotify’s most popular AI features. Since then, the company has added ways to discuss music with a conversational AI agent, refine recommendations with prompts, create playlists with AI, and work with third-party agents, including ChatGPT and Claude.

Voices and personalities

Premium subscribers can choose from seven English-language voices with British, American, Irish, Australian and Indian accents. Two new Spanish-language voices are also available.

Three of the American voices have distinct personalities: Casey sounds calm and warm, Tess is direct, with sharp inflections, and Lane combines a Southern accent with youthful energy. Nico speaks Spanish simply and casually, while Fabi is friendly and humorous. The other voices also have regional accents.

The new options will not replace the AI DJ’s original voice, X, which was created using real recordings of a Spotify employee’s voice. Fabi and Nico will be the only Spanish-language voices available, replacing the previous option, Livi.

Less commentary between songs

The AI DJ usually introduces music selections and explains why it chose those tracks. Now, commentary can be turned off. In this mode, it will respond briefly only when starting and finishing. Spotify expects this to make it possible to use the DJ, for example, at parties where people want background music without conversation.

To open the feature, search for “DJ” in the Spotify app. Then tap the three-dot menu and choose a voice and commentary settings. While the DJ is running, tapping the DJ button again lets you change genres, artists or recommendations.

The new voices begin rolling out to Premium subscribers on November 10 in countries where the AI DJ is already available. There are currently more than 95 such markets. The feature is available in English, Spanish, French, German, Italian and Brazilian Portuguese.

Dataist’s take: The update makes the AI DJ more flexible when users want background music rather than explanations between songs. The new settings are available only to Premium subscribers and only in markets where Spotify has already launched the feature.