Spotify Struggles to Balance Familiar and Novel with AI DJ
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Spotify has over 100 million tracks and is using AI like its new AI DJ to help subscribers discover new music outside their comfort zones. However, predicting when someone wants novelty vs familiarity remains tricky.
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Spotify has invested heavily in AI and machine learning to power recommendations with tools like Discover Weekly and Blend that combine data from millions of listening sessions.
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Balancing novelty and familiarity is an ongoing challenge. Listeners often happily return to familiar music, contrary to assumptions people always want new discoveries.
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AI algorithms excel at predicting established tastes but can't read minds on when someone wants something totally new. Contexts and moods shaping musical preferences change.
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While AI may become solution or problem in the universe of 100 million tracks depending on the user, people can still find good music on Spotify if they know what they're looking for.