Spotify isn’t the only business experimenting with utilizing AI to create playlists; on Tuesday, Amazon said that it will do the same. Amazon Music is currently testing Maestro, an AI playlist generator that allows U.S. users on iOS and Android to build playlists using spoken or written cues, including emojis.
Amazon recommends that, in addition to emojis, users create suggestions with activities, noises, or emotions. If students are unsure what to write, they may choose one of the prompt choices at the bottom of the screen. Seconds later, an AI-generated playlist will display, with tracks that should match your input.
The tool is now in beta, so Amazon advises that the technology underlying Maestro “won’t always get it right the first time.” Amazon, like Spotify, has introduced certain guardrails to the experience to prevent obscene language and other improper suggestions, according to the company. (We’re betting somebody will attempt to break past those boundaries eventually!)
Maestro is not yet widely distributed. While Spotify’s AI generator begins testing in the United Kingdom and Australia, Amazon’s offering will first be available to a “subset” of free Amazon Music users, as well as Prime customers and Unlimited Amazon Music subscribers, for iOS and Android in the United States.
However, subscribers will receive access to more functions. For example, they’ll be able to listen to playlists immediately and store them for later, but Prime members and ad-supported users will only be able to hear 30-second samples of the songs before storing them. This might encourage more people to subscribe to the premium membership if they like the AI feature. The move is also consistent with the overall trend of charging for premium AI experiences.
To access Maestro, customers must have the most recent version of the Amazon Music mobile app. They will need to tap the Maestro option on their home screen. They may also notice the option to utilize Maestro when they hit the plus symbol to create a new playlist. From there, users may either say or type down their playlist prompt idea before tapping “Let’s go!” to begin broadcasting. Users have the option to store and share the playlist with others.
Amazon recommends themes such as “😭 and eating 🍝.” “Make my 👶 a genius,” “Myspace era hip-hop,” and “🏜️🌵🤠.” “Music my grandparents made out to”; “🎤🚿🧼”; and “I tracked my friends and they’re all hanging out without me” are some examples of the ridiculous suggestions for this new experience.
The business did not specify when the beta would be made available to additional clients, just that it would do so gradually.
