YouTube Music testing new feature that could rival Spotify’s AI DJ
Spotify has already made a splash with its AI DJ, which blends real-time voice narration with hyper-personalized tracklists. YouTube’s parent company, Google, appears eager not to be left behind in the AI-audio arms race.
YouTube Music is now testing a new feature: AI music hosts that talk to you between tracks, much like a friendly radio DJ, only this time powered by artificial intelligence.
The feature, currently rolling out under YouTube’s experimental Labs program, introduces two AI-generated personalities that provide commentary, context, and music trivia as you stream curated playlists.
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It is a clear challenge to Spotify’s popular AI DJ, which launched globally last year and now serves millions of users with personalised radio-style mixes.
However, YouTube’s approach is slightly different and arguably more subtle.
Instead of rebuilding your playlist from scratch, YouTube’s AI hosts layer short speech segments before or after songs. These segments share artist backstories, song trivia, or thematic commentary.
The goal is to transform your listening session into an experience, not just a shuffle of beats, but a narrative journey.
“Imagine listening to your favourite Afrobeats playlist, and a smooth voice pops in to tell you the story behind Burna Boy’s latest sample or the roots of a track’s melody,” said digital expert Charles Mwaniki.
As of October 2025, the feature is available only to a select group of users in the US and has yet to roll out globally, including in Kenya. Users access the feature via the YouTube Labs tab (Settings > Try Experimental Features).
When enabled, a small sparkle icon appears on the music player interface, allowing users to snooze the host’s commentary when needed, but not fully disable it.
Two default voices are available, and though commentary is currently limited to specific curated playlists, YouTube is expected to expand the functionality across more genres and moods.
Spotify has already made a splash with its AI DJ, blending real-time voice narration with hyper-personalised tracklists. YouTube’s parent company, Google, seems eager not to be left behind in the AI-audio arms race.
What sets YouTube Music apart is its deep archive of content, ranging from live performances to behind-the-scenes artist interviews and rare song versions. This gives its AI hosts access to richer context, potentially making the commentary more compelling over time.
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