Spotify is giving its AI-powered playlist tool a massive boost today, announcing that its Prompted Playlist feature is expanding beyond music to include podcasts.
This update is rolling out in English to Premium subscribers in Canada, the U.S., the U.K., and a handful of other global markets. If you have been looking for a way to sift through the millions of shows on the platform, this might be the shortcut you need. Previously, Canadians were part of the beta but it has now since expanded to everyone.
The feature works by taking your personal listening history and mixing it with real-time global trends and charts. You essentially give the algorithm a nudge with a specific prompt, and it builds a curated lineup of episodes that match your vibe.
“Podcast fans are always looking for their next great listen,” said Lizzy Hale, Spotify’s Global Head of Podcast Editorial, in a statement on Tuesday. “Prompted Playlist makes discovery feel effortless and personal. For creators, it unlocks powerful new opportunities for discovery, bringing both back catalog and new episodes to audiences who are actively signaling what they want to hear.”
One of the coolest parts of the update is that each episode or chapter in the playlist comes with a short note. It explains exactly why that specific clip landed in your mix, so you aren’t left wondering why the AI thought you’d like a deep dive into 18th-century maritime history (although that does sound intriguing).
You can set these playlists to update daily or weekly. If you aren’t sure what to ask for, Spotify’s curators are dropping pre-made prompts on the Home screen to get you started. You can ask for anything from “weird science breakthroughs” to “true crime investigations with lots of twists.”
Since the tool is still in its beta phase, Spotify says they are still tweaking things and that usage limits are currently in place. It is a solid move for a platform where 34 million podcasts are discovered for the first time every single week.
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