The artificial intelligence of Spotify cannot compare to a real DJ.
There's nothing like the authentic experience.
Artificial intelligence has become omnipresent today, infiltrating different aspects of our daily lives, from vehicles to messaging apps. Despite the trivialization this may generate, the implementation of Spotify's AI DJ has caught my attention. Although I've been listening to hit radio for the past twenty years, the concept of a robot choosing music for me didn’t seem surprising. However, after a week of intermittent use, I can say that it's a fitting representation of the era dominated by AI. This virtual DJ has a disturbingly human tone and plays many of my favorite songs, but it cannot match the genuine experience that a human DJ provides.
Since its launch in early 2023, the Spotify AI DJ became relevant to me when I was browsing for music suitable for work. The AI's voice greeted me by name, and after a brief introduction, announced that it had selected some tracks of "dream pop and neo-psychedelic waves." At the start of the music, I was annoyed by how spot-on the choices were. It shouldn't have been a surprise, considering Spotify has nearly a decade of data on my musical preferences. The next track, a song by Classixx, was from an album I had listened to repeatedly the previous year. However, the first time I heard "Hanging Gardens" was not on Spotify but on KEXP, a local station where DJs are real people.
The "DJ X" is represented by an animated green circle that moves while it speaks. Of course, I want to listen to Santigold, but that desire holds more meaning when it comes from a human curator. In Seattle, we enjoy an independent station on the radio dial: KEXP. I started listening to KEXP through its online stream long before moving to this city, and being part of the community has deepened my appreciation. I celebrated the inauguration of its new headquarters in 2016 and have attended live shows of my favorite bands. Being able to enter my favorite radio station and simply spend time there remains an incredibly rewarding experience.
Not everything I hear on KEXP pleases me. For instance, "The Friday song" has been banned in my home due to the burnout it causes. However, that is precisely what a radio station offers: a varied mix of content where you can enjoy some songs and not so much others. Sometimes, you rediscover a track you had forgotten or discover a new artist you love. It resembles a full meal, while an AI-curated playlist might feel like a dessert buffet: it’s delightful at first, but can become overwhelming over time.
In the age of Spotify's algorithms and hit stations, a DJ might seem like an abstract concept. However, KEXP DJs are real people who participate in local music festivals and do their grocery shopping at the co-op. This difference is crucial. When a human selects a song that you genuinely like, the connection is different than if an algorithm picks it. Evie Stokes, DJ and host of KEXP's Drive Time, mentions that sharing music is “a way to connect with thousands of people around the world.” Her bond with the audience is strengthened by sharing personal aspects, like her journey to sobriety.
Working as a writer poses a challenge, as I find it difficult to listen to the radio while working. I prefer to use Spotify and have opted for “lofi” and “smooth jazz beats” playlists. I have also experimented with other AI features of Spotify, such as AI-generated playlists. For those moments, they are functional. The best part is that there are no pretensions of a human selecting the music for me.
The AI DJ is nothing but a symbol of the current era of artificial intelligence. As tech companies integrate AI into all their products, there seems to be an excessive interest in its implementation, without a clear understanding of the value a human brings to these interactions. The essence of many preferences lies in human connection, something that reflects in the popularity of podcasts.
The day I started listening to Spotify's AI DJ, I got into the car that afternoon to pick up my son from kindergarten. DJ Riz was in charge of Drive Time on KEXP, and the first song that played was "Sunshine, Lollipops and Rainbows" by Lesley Gore. Even though I probably wouldn't have chosen to listen to those two songs that same afternoon, the contrast made me smile. That emotional connection and discovery simply cannot be replicated by an AI.
