Spotify Expands AI-Powered Prompted Playlists to Podcasts
Spotify is broadening the scope of its AI-driven “Prompted Playlist” feature, extending the tool beyond music to include podcast discovery. The update targets Premium subscribers, offering a more personalized way to navigate the platform’s vast audio library through natural language requests.
The feature, which began as a music-focused test in New Zealand late last year, is currently available in the U.S., Canada, the U.K., Ireland, Australia, and Sweden. Users in these regions can access the tool by selecting “Create” and choosing the “Prompted Playlists” option to input specific requests, such as searching for highly-rated true crime series with complex plot twists.
Customizing the Discovery Experience
The system provides granular control over how these playlists function. Users can define update frequencies, choosing between daily, weekly, or static options. To maintain transparency, Spotify adds a brief note to each episode included in a generated list, explaining the reasoning behind the selection.
“Podcast fans are always looking for their next great listen. Prompted Playlist makes discovery feel effortless and personal. For creators, it unlocks powerful new opportunities for discovery, bringing both back catalog and new episodes to audiences who are actively signaling what they want to hear,” said Lizzy Hale, Spotify’s Global Head of Podcast Editorial.
Driving Engagement and Creator Growth
The company reports that over 34 million podcasts are discovered on the platform each week, a statistic it aims to improve through this AI integration. Beyond user-generated prompts, the app may display curated playlists from Spotify’s culture team on the home screen, which subscribers can then modify to suit their specific tastes.
This initiative aligns with Spotify’s ongoing strategy to strengthen its podcast ecosystem. Recent efforts have included lowering monetization thresholds for video podcasts, which now require:
- Three published podcast episodes.
- 2,000 consumption hours within the previous 30 days.
- At least 1,000 engaged listeners over the last 30 days.
During the Q4 2025 earnings call held in February, co-CEO Alex Norström confirmed that the platform hosts over 530,000 video podcasts, underscoring the company’s commitment to expanding its reach in the creator economy.