YouTube Music has introduced a new feature supported by AI, which adds hosts to the platform capable of telling interesting stories, sharing facts for fans, and commenting on the music the user is listening to. According to the developers’ idea, these hosts help users dive deeper into the world of their favorite tracks, offering a unique experience while listening to radio or mixes. The feature is in test mode through YouTube Labs — a new space for AI experiments open to all YouTube users, but currently available only to a limited number of participants from the USA.
After activating the experiment, a special button with an AI icon appears on the playback screen, allowing users to enable or temporarily disable the host’s comments. The novelty resembles classic radio hosts but works automatically and adapts to the listener’s tastes. YouTube warns that AI comments may contain inaccuracies and encourages feedback to improve the feature’s performance.
The launch of this experiment comes amid the active implementation of AI services on the platform. Previously, YouTube Music tested a feature for creating custom radio stations using text descriptions. Recently, YouTube introduced tools for creating Shorts using generative AI, as well as a new search results carousel with AI elements.
YouTube Labs has become a platform for regular trials of new AI capabilities, which can be disabled without notice. Experiment participants have the opportunity to be the first to test prototypes and influence their development through their feedback. The company emphasizes that the quality and accuracy of AI performance may vary during testing.
