YouTube Music is getting a little smarter—and more talkative. The platform has started testing a new AI-powered host feature that doesn’t just play your favorite songs but also adds commentary, trivia, and stories about the music you’re listening to. Think of it as having a virtual DJ riding along with your playlist.
How the Feature Works
The AI hosts are designed to make listening feel more interactive. As your music plays, the host can drop in with fun facts about the artist, background on a track, or even bits of trivia. It’s very similar to Spotify’s AI DJ, which has been around for a couple of years.
Interestingly, YouTube calls them “hosts” (plural), which hints that users may eventually be able to choose from different personalities or voices. Some industry watchers even think the tech could be linked to Google’s AI podcast hosts built under NotebookLM.
Who Gets to Try It?
Right now, this feature is in testing mode through the YouTube Labs program, which lets users try experimental tools before they go mainstream. At the moment, it’s only available in the US, but there’s no paywall—users don’t need a YouTube Premium subscription to try it out.
YouTube’s Bigger AI Push
This experiment is part of YouTube’s bigger plan to weave AI into nearly everything it does. Recently, we’ve seen AI tools arrive for YouTube Shorts creators, plus features like automatic video dubbing expanding worldwide. With AI hosts, YouTube Music is now joining the party, giving listeners a more dynamic, personality-driven experience.
