YouTube is rolling out a new AI-powered playlist generator for Premium users, quietly pushing the platform further into mood-based listening, and deeper into subscription logic.
Available on iOS and Android, the feature lets users create playlists simply by describing what they want to hear. No genre browsing, no manual curation. Just vibes.
From the Library tab, users tap “New”, select “AI playlist”, and enter a text or voice prompt.
Think: “raging death metal,” “sad post-rock,” “progressive house for a chill party,” “90s classic hits.”
The AI does the rest.
YouTube keeps nudging music toward intent, not search
This isn’t YouTube’s first experiment with AI-driven listening. Back in July 2024, the platform tested prompt-based custom radio stations in the U.S. This new rollout feels like the logical next step: moving from radio to ownership, playlists you can save, revisit, and refine.
And YouTube isn’t alone.
Rivals like Spotify, Amazon Music, and Deezer have all launched AI-powered playlist or radio features. The battle is no longer about catalog size. It’s about who understands your mood faster.
What’s interesting is where YouTube places this feature: firmly behind the Premium paywall.
At the same time, the company has started restricting free users from viewing song lyrics in the YouTube Music app, officially described as a limited experiment, but symbolically loud. AI convenience on one side, friction on the other.
This is YouTube doing what platforms do best: adding just enough magic to paid plans, while subtly reminding free users what they’re missing.
The bigger picture matters here. Google recently revealed it now has 325 million paying users across Google One and YouTube Premium, with YouTube playing a central role in that growth.
AI playlists aren’t just a feature. They’re a retention tool.