I’m new to the world of generative AI. It’s plagued my social media feeds for what seems like years at this point, but I’ve never had anything I personally wanted or needed to use it for. But that all changed when I found out I could use it to make playlists and discover new music.
I’ve previously used Spotify’s Prompted Playlist generative AI feature to create playlists, but what stood out to me was that it pretty much exclusively used songs already in my library. While I (obviously) already liked all the songs on the playlist and enjoyed listening to them, I yearned for more.
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Why ChatGPT?
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ChatGPT has plugins, meaning I’m able to connect it directly to the music streaming service of my choice. I’ve been using Spotify as my primary streaming service for as long as I can remember, and even though I’ve tried many other services, it’s the one I keep coming back to because of its user-friendly interface.
Connecting my Spotify account to ChatGPT meant it could have all of my streaming data and understand my music taste. That way, it doesn’t need to rely solely on my prompt when selecting music.
ChatGPT also does a far better job of understanding more complex prompts than Spotify’s native AI model. And beyond that, ChatGPT actually gave me ideas of how I could expand on these prompts.
How to set it up
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The first thing I did was log in to my ChatGPT account and link it up with my Spotify account. This took less than a minute and meant I could start giving prompts right away.
To make sure ChatGPT is considering Spotify, click the plus button on the left, followed by more, and then click the Spotify icon.
So now ChatGPT can analyze my listening habits and recommend the right tracks for the prompts.
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When coming up with prompts, you’ll need a little bit of your own creative flair, but even if that’s not your strong suit, ChatGPT can give you a nudge in the right direction.
What to read next
I wanted a quick playlist that would keep me relaxed while reading my book on a sunny Sunday afternoon. So I asked:
“Can you make me a playlist for a Sunday afternoon, with the golden sunlight streaming through the window as I drink a cup of hot chai and read my fantasy novel on the chaise lounge, using my Spotify taste as inspiration?”
(Image credit: Spotify)
The result? An ideal chilled-out playlist that incorporated some of my favorite artists as well as songs I’d never heard before.
It features artists I listen to all the time, like Hozier and Phoebe Bridgers, but also adds some tracks that I don’t listen to very often, such as the soundtrack of the movie Call Me By Your Name. This is an interesting addition that I assume has come from the film being based on the book of the same name, which has themes of golden sunlight throughout. It perfectly embodies the vibe I was going for.
ChatGPT even gave me suggestions on how to create a more niche playlist, like adding a location or the overall vibe I wanted. Knowing I wanted this playlist to play while reading, it even suggested I ask for instrumental tracks to enhance my focus.
Why I’ll keep doing this
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Since I’m someone who loves making Spotify playlists for every occasion, you may be wondering why on earth I’m letting AI take the wheel? But sometimes I need a super quick solution so I can get on with what I’m doing. In this case, that’s enjoying my book with a calming playlist.
I also love that it recommended me songs I’d never listened to before by artists I hadn’t listened to as well as taking into consideration my taste in music. I even had recommendations for some deep-cut songs from artists I already listen to.
It’s a great way to quickly curate a super niche playlist based on an activity, and the more detail you use, the more accurate it can be. So, if you haven’t tried it yourself yet, I’d recommend making it a weekend project.
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