As technology advances, AI continues to seep rapidly into our lives and popular culture. What happened to vinyl records and CDs? The days of physical media seem to be long gone, brushed aside in favor of faster and more modern options.

Apps such as Spotify and Apple Music have skyrocketed in popularity over the past decade, providing users with fast access to millions of songs, artists, and a plethora of curated playlists.

If you use Spotify, you have probably encountered your “Discover Weekly” playlist, which is a personalized playlist that relies on AI algorithms to suggest new music based on a listener’s history. Maybe you have used Spotify’s “DJ” to shuffle through your favorites while also recommending new songs. These are just a couple of examples of Spotify’s growing use of AI tools.

Spotify Wrapped is an additional AI-driven feature that gathers data from a person’s listening history to produce an end-of-year summary for the app’s premium users. According to AIM Research, Spotify Wrapped uses “computer vision techniques” to provide the engaging visual animations as well as “predictive analytics to forecast music trends and consumer preferences.” Thus, a Spotify listener’s experience is extremely tailored and curated.

Additionally, Apple Music employs similar AI features to create personalized playlists and help listeners discover new music. For example, Apple’s new iOS 18 update includes an AI image generator tool that allows users to create their own playlist covers.

These features can be seen as incredibly helpful, as they give listeners insights into their own music tastes as well as suggestions for new music. However, AI’s rapid emergence in music streaming apps can also be seen as an overbearing presence. Is the future of music one without human influence?