Spotify’s AI DJ feature, which serves as an AI guide that presents personalized song selections, is now accessible in its native language and English.
On Tuesday, TechCrunch’s previous reports of the feature under development were confirmed by Spotify when it announced the launch of an AI DJ who speaks Spanish. The Spanish-language voice is also based on an actual person, in this case, Olivia “Livi” Quiroz Roa, a senior music editor at Spotify who resides in Mexico City. This is similar to the original AI DJ “X,” whose voice was based on an existing Spotify employee (Xavier “X” Jernigan).
Spotify’s AI DJ, initially introduced last year, is intended to function as a sophisticated audio guide that introduces music through a convincingly genuine voice. The feature is not merely a means for Spotify to experiment with new AI technology; it also enhances music consumption on its app. DJ users consume extensive music, as indicated by their internal data. Additionally, the utilization of the function has expanded by over 200% in the past year.
The AI DJ is constructed using technologies from both OpenAI and Sonantic, an AI voice platform that Spotify obtained in 2022. Initially, DJ X was selected to serve as the vocal model for the AI, which employs the same slang terms and expressions as Jernigan, in addition to imitating the sound of his voice.
After a comprehensive casting process, Spotify announced that Roa was selected as the newest voice for the AI DJ feature. The company discovered that her voice resonated with the most listeners. The company was informed that the voice was perceived as relatable and as if it were a friend providing music recommendations. Spotify has stated that customers can select their preferred AI DJ with the advent of “Livi,” rather than X being discontinued.
According to Spotify’s announcement, “We have millions of Spanish-speaking listeners on Spotify, and a significant number of them have been utilizing social media to inquire about DJ.” The company reported that there has been a 215% increase in social discourse regarding DJs in Spanish over the past few months.
TechCrunch reported on the Spanish-speaking AI DJ feature in May, when new text referencing DJ “Livi” was added to the app’s code, along with indications that the feature would be available in Mexico.
Nevertheless, Spotify’s announcement suggests that “Livi” will be accessible to Premium listeners in markets where the DJ X is already available, as well as in other markets throughout Latin America, including Argentina, Bolivia, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Uruguay, and Venezuela.
“Livi” is currently thought of as a “beta” exercise.
Spotify Premium subscribers may utilize the “Livi” feature by selecting it from the “Search” tab within the application. They must then search for the term “DJ” and press play to utilize the DJ. To swap languages from an existing DJ, users must select English or Spanish by tapping the three-dot menu located on the DJ card.
