TL;DR:
- Spotify plans a more interactive AI voice interface leveraging user voice data.
- The platform is already using generative AI to prototype features and optimize operations.
- Executives hinted at AI “reasoning” models that go beyond recommendations.
- The shift could differentiate Spotify from rivals like Apple Music and Amazon Music.
Spotify Pushes Toward Conversational AI
In a significant step toward making music streaming more intuitive, Spotify is exploring the potential of generative AI-powered voice interfaces. During the company’s Q2 2025 earnings call, executives signaled that users could soon experience a more chatty and intelligent voice assistant.
This initiative builds on Spotify’s current AI DJ, which personalizes audio commentary and playlist curation. But now, the company plans to move toward two-way conversational experiences, allowing listeners to speak naturally to the platform — not just to request songs, but to engage in contextual dialogue that influences playback across music, podcasts, and audiobooks.
Spotify’s Dataset Advantage
According to Gustav Söderström, Chief Product and Technology Officer, Spotify now benefits from a growing “plain English” dataset created by users talking to the AI DJ. This dataset allows Spotify to better understand how users describe their preferences, a major shift from its historical song-to-song metadata.
“You can already write to Spotify, talk to Spotify. You’re just going to see that expand,” said Söderström.
This transition marks a fundamental difference from the recommendation systems used by platforms like Amazon Music or YouTube Music, which rely more heavily on historical behavior than voice input.
Generative AI in Product Development
Spotify is also using generative AI to speed up internal workflows. Executives noted its value in rapid prototyping, automated financial operations, and streamlining other business functions.
Söderström emphasized that AI not only predicts user preferences but is beginning to “reason” over prior behavior. This shift implies Spotify’s ambitions to employ AI reasoning models capable of multi-step understanding, potentially transforming how users explore and consume content.
Spotify’s AI DJ as a Data Collection Tool
The company’s AI DJ, first introduced in 2023 and upgraded in May 2025, now allows Premium users to make voice requests directly within the app. Users can tap a button to adjust genres, moods, or tracks with voice prompts, generating even more conversational data for the company.
This feature has already yielded strategic insight. Söderström suggested that Spotify’s AI can now better link natural language phrases to songs, enhancing both search capabilities and future discovery tools.
Spotify Q2 2025 Highlights
| Metric | Q2 2025 | YoY Change | Source |
| Monthly Active Users | 696 million | +19% | TechCrunch |
| Paid Subscribers | 276 million | +12% | Spotify IR |
| Stock Price Reaction | ↓ 10% after earnings | N/A | CNBC |
| AI DJ Voice Request Feature | Premium Users (May 2025 rollout) | New Feature | Spotify Newsroom |
Competitive Implications
The move toward a more interactive voice interface is designed to differentiate Spotify from streaming rivals. While Apple Music and Pandora offer voice-based commands, few have built a conversational AI layer designed for real-time feedback and music reasoning.
Spotify also stands out for its cross-format support: its AI DJ works across music, podcasts, and audiobooks, setting the stage for a unified listening AI assistant in the future.
Challenges Remain
Despite growing its user base, Spotify missed revenue targets in Q2 and swung to a loss, sending its stock down 10%. CEO Daniel Ek expressed dissatisfaction with the company’s advertising performance, underscoring the need for monetizable innovation.
This increased emphasis on AI experiences may serve as a way to enhance premium offerings, improve retention, and support personalized advertising in future updates.
Outlook
Spotify’s future may lie in multimodal AI systems capable of deeper user interaction. By enabling two-way dialogue, the platform not only strengthens its data moat but may redefine digital audio engagement.
As Spotify continues testing and refining this next-generation interface, the broader streaming industry is likely to watch closely — and possibly follow suit.
