Photo by Alexander Shatov on Unsplash | Google Cloud Credit: Google LLC
Spotify Partners With Google Cloud for Podcasts and Audiobooks
November 16, 2023
Spotify and Google Cloud have announced plans to utilize Google Cloud’s AI tools to enhance content discovery and provide personalized recommendations for Spotify’s audio content.
According to The Verge, “With this latest move, Spotify is using Google Cloud’s LLMs (large language models) to analyze the roughly 5 million podcasts and 350,000 audiobooks in its content library with a goal of trying to ‘augment’ the metadata, according to a press release.”
Google Cloud is not a new name to Spotify, with the latter choosing Google’s cloud infrastructure as its sole cloud provider. As reported by Protocol in 2021, the two tech companies have been collaborating on several service offerings, and this latest endeavor is a continuation of their established partnership.
The Swedish music streaming platform has always been at the forefront of harnessing the power of AI. A decade ago, they pioneered the usage of AI for their music recommendation algorithms, revolutionizing the way we discover and listen to music. Today, Spotify has been exploring numerous ways to enhance its revenue streams. As part of these efforts, the company is focusing on expanding its portfolio of revenue-generating formats. Podcasts and audiobooks have become central to this expansion strategy, and the company sees significant potential in these formats.
Furthermore, Spotify previously assured its stakeholders of high-margin returns from its ambitious investment in the podcast and audiobook sectors. By infusing AI into these segments, Spotify is on a mission to replicate the success it achieved with music, fostering a more personalized and engaging user experience across all forms of audio entertainment.
“We’re excited to continue building on the strong and trusted foundation we have established with Google Cloud. The evolution of our technology has been matched by Google Cloud’s commitment to building the best possible platform for our products to run on and driving further innovation with the emerging capabilities of generative AI.”
Gustav Söderström, Spotify’s chief product and technology officer, via PR Newswire
The main focus of this collaboration is the application of Google Cloud’s AI tools to refine Spotify’s personalized recommendations. By leveraging AI, Spotify aims to offer a more tailored and enjoyable experience to its users when they are browsing through podcasts and audiobooks.
Earlier in the year, Spotify introduced an AI feature for songs, dubbed “AI DJ,” which leverages OpenAI’s generative AI models to churn out custom playlists. This feature, however, has garnered mixed reviews from users. Importantly, Spotify’s move to use AI for spoken audio discovery shouldn’t be seen as an isolated feature like AI DJ — rather, it signals the company’s serious commitment to upgrading user experience across its non-music content offerings.
Recent News
Media Giants Depend on Sports As Content Shortages Rise
As Hollywood emerges from last year’s strikes, major media companies are turning to live sports to attract audiences and advertisers. This trend was evident during this year’s Upfront presentations, where media giants showcased their upcoming content and advertising opportunities.
New Trader Joe’s Opens in SF After 10 Years
San Francisco’s Hayes Valley neighborhood welcomed a highly anticipated new addition on May 17, 2024, with the grand opening of a Trader Joe’s at 555 Fulton St., on the corner of Laguna Street. This event marks the end of a decade-long wait for residents who have been eagerly looking forward to a new grocery store in their area.
China’s Property Market Boost: Stocks Surge, Copper Hits Highs
The Chinese government unveiled a comprehensive support package that has sent ripples through financial markets. This initiative includes a slew of measures aimed at stimulating housing demand and addressing the excess inventory burdening developers. The immediate impact was a significant rally in Chinese stocks and a surge in commodity prices, notably copper, which hit record highs.
Mercedes-Benz Workers in Alabama Reject Union
In a pivotal moment for autoworkers in the southern United States, employees at a Mercedes-Benz plant in Alabama have voted against joining the United Auto Workers (UAW) union. The outcome, with 56% of workers voting against unionization and 44% in favor, comes as a significant setback for the UAW’s efforts to expand its influence in the region.