To create AI DJ, Spotify had Jernigan go into a studio to produce high-quality recordings, including those where he read lines with different cadences and emotions. It may opt to use its own in-house AI tech in the future, the company recently told us. Spotify’s ability to create AI voices specifically leverages IP from Spotify’s 2022 acquisition of Sonantic combined with OpenAI technology.

Plus, the team has been using the OpenAI model and researching the possibilities across Large Language Models, generative voice, and more. The streamer has also been quietly investing in AI development and research, with a team of a few hundred now working on areas like personalization and machine learning. When Jernigan was recently asked about Spotify’s plans to work with other voice models going forward, he teased, “Stay tuned.” That said, Spotify has already hinted that the AI DJ in the app today would not be the only AI voice users would encounter in the future. The subtext of this comment indicates Simmons’ statements may have been somewhat premature.

Advertising represents an interesting canvas for future exploration, but we don’t have anything to announce at this time.” There has been a 500% increase in the number of daily podcast episodes discussing AI over the past month including the conversation between Derek Thompson and Bill Simmons. “The AI landscape is evolving quickly and Spotify, which has a long history of innovation, is exploring a wide array of applications, including our hugely popular AI DJ feature. “We’re always working to enhance the Spotify experience and test new offerings that benefit creators, advertisers and users,” a Spotify spokesperson told TechCrunch. Reached for comment, Spotify wouldn’t directly confirm or deny the feature’s development. The Ringer was acquired by Spotify in 2020, but it wasn’t clear if Simmons was authorized to speak about the streamer’s plans in this area, as he began by saying, “I don’t think Spotify is going to get mad at me for this…” before sharing the information. His comments were first reported by Semafor. He said these ads could open up new opportunities for podcasters because they could geo-target ads - like tickets for a local event in the listener’s city - or even create ads in different languages, with the host’s permission. You have to obviously give the approval for the voice, but it opens up, from an advertising standpoint, all these different great possibilities for you.” Simmons made the statements on a recent episode of The Bill Simmons Podcast, saying, “There is going to be a way to use my voice for the ads. According to statements made by The Ringer founder Bill Simmons, the streaming service is developing AI technology that will be able to use a podcast host’s voice to make host-read ads - without the host actually having to read and record the ad copy. Now the streamer may turn that same technology to advertising, it seems.

With Spotify’s AI DJ, the company trained an AI on a real person’s voice - that of its head of Cultural Partnerships and podcast host, Xavier “X” Jernigan.

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