Spotify Unveils AI-Powered Q&A and Briefing Features for Podcasts

Spotify has traditionally served as a hub for users to enjoy podcasts made by others. The company is set to revolutionize this experience with a new personal podcast feature that utilizes AI to create customized podcasts based on user-generated ideas or specific prompts.

Earlier this month, Spotify unveiled a command-line tool on GitHub for Claude Code and Codex, which allows users to create and save podcasts directly within their Spotify library. Soon, users will have the capability to generate podcasts directly in the Spotify app. This feature will enable them to schedule daily or weekly updates on topics of interest, as well as create standalone podcasts for deeper dives into particular subjects.

Users can make requests like, “Provide my daily city updates and keep me informed about concerts by my favorite artists,” or “Summarize economics in five minutes,” to generate podcasts that will be saved in their library for personal use.

Additionally, users can add links, PDFs, and text, as well as choose a custom voice for their podcasts. The company is inspired by tools such as NotebookLM, the ElevenLabs reader, and the Huxe app developed by the creators of NotebookLM to support personal podcasts on any subject.

Spotify has also released a dedicated desktop application named Studio by Spotify Labs, which connects with users’ email and calendar to provide personalized briefings.

Moreover, the company is introducing an AI-driven Q&A feature for Premium mobile users in the U.S., Sweden, and Ireland starting today. This feature allows users to ask questions about the episodes they’re listening to or seek clarification on concepts mentioned in the podcast, as well as request podcast recommendations on specific topics. This update follows the introduction of a prompt-based feature for creating podcast playlists in April.

To date, Spotify has been promoting increased consumption of video podcasts, reporting a 50% year-over-year rise in users streaming video content. With this latest feature release, Spotify aims to boost user engagement by allowing them to inquire about podcasts, akin to Google’s recently launched Ask YouTube, while also enabling the creation of customized interest-based podcasts.

For podcast creators, Spotify is rolling out a creator sponsorship tool to simplify brand partnerships. Additionally, it is launching a subscription model for creators to provide exclusive content and experiences, a feature that has already gained traction on social platforms like Instagram, Facebook, and Snapchat.