Sometimes you want music that fits a specific moment, but the playlists you find feel too broad or miss your taste entirely. Now, Spotify is working a new AI tool called Prompted Playlists that lets you describe the mood or sound you want in plain language, and the AI builds a mix around it. The idea is to make discovery feel more intuitive for listeners.
The feature is currently rolling out in beta to Spotify Premium users in New Zealand. It uses your entire listening history, not just your recent activity, and can refresh on a schedule. This makes it a more flexible tool than Spotify’s earlier AI experiments and gives listeners clearer control over the direction of their recommendations.
Because prompts can be simple or detailed, listeners can steer the experience however they like. The AI blends familiar tracks with new ones that match the request, which helps both fans who want a specific mood and artists who want to reach niche listeners who are actively searching for their sound.
The timing is important. With a U.S. price increase coming in early 2026, Spotify is adding features that strengthen the value of its subscription at a moment when competitors like Apple Music, YouTube Music and Amazon Music are also investing in personalised tools.
Prompted Playlists signals a shift in how streaming will work. Instead of relying on a single algorithm to guess your taste, Spotify is opening a path where listeners guide the experience themselves. If this continues, 2026 could mark the moment AI-powered music discovery becomes something users shape rather than accept.
Emmanuel Umahi
