YouTube Debuts AI Playlist Generator for Premium Users

YouTube has launched a new AI-powered playlist generation feature for Premium users on iOS and Android. This functionality enables subscribers to create personalized playlists using simple text prompts.

How to Use the New Feature

The feature is accessible through the Library tab. Users can navigate there, tap the "New" button, and then select the "AI playlist" option.

Playlists can be generated by entering text or voice prompts. Examples include specific genres like "raging death metal," mood-based requests such as "sad post rock," or nostalgic themes like "90s classic hits." This new AI capability is exclusively available to YouTube Premium and YouTube Music Premium subscribers.

Broader AI Context and Competition

YouTube has been actively exploring AI-driven music curation. The company previously tested a custom radio station creation feature using prompts in the U.S. in July 2024.

Competitor streaming services are also investing in similar AI capabilities. Spotify, Amazon Music, and Deezer have all introduced their own AI-powered playlist or radio generation features, indicating a growing trend in personalized music discovery.

Related Development: Lyric Restrictions

In a separate but related development, YouTube recently initiated an experiment restricting song lyric viewing for a small percentage of ad-supported users on its YouTube Music app. The company clarified that the vast majority of free users still retain access to lyrics.

Subscription Growth

Google's subscription business has experienced significant growth, with YouTube being a major contributor.

Earlier this month, Google reported a total of 325 million paying users across its Google One and YouTube Premium services, underscoring the success of its subscription offerings.