Paris-based global streaming platform Deezer is fielding an AI playlist generator in an international beta launch. The move makes the indie-centric service more competitive with Spotify and Amazon Music, which have already been testing the feature. YouTube is reportedly also experimenting with AI-powered personalized radio. As of now, 5 percent of Deezer’s paid subscribers have been selected at random to try Playlist with AI, which creates playlists from text prompts that invoke moods, genres, decades, activities or “anything else that comes to mind,” according to Deezer.

Deezer had previously tapped artificial intelligence to enhance its signature Flow, which creates mood-based playlists, and SongCatcher, a recognition engine along the lines of Apple’s Shazam.

Product VP Alexandra Leloup said in an announcement that the company welcomes the addition of a new AI-powered feature for Deezer’s international user base.

“Whether you need the perfect soundtrack for a workout, a romantic evening, or a nostalgic trip down memory lane, our Playlist with AI feature will curate a new musical experience within a matter of seconds, and offers endless possibilities to easily discover new music,” Leloup said.

TechCrunch reports that Playlist with AI is powered by Google’s Gemini 1.5 model, and “before generating a playlist the app ensures that the prompt does not include” hate speech or dangerous or explicit content.

Deezer’s Q1 2024 earnings report indicates a worldwide user base of 10.5 million, up 12.8 percent year-over-year, during which time revenue increased 14.2 percent to  $144.3 million. In March, Deezer renewed its deal with indie rights administrator Merlin.

In September 2023, Deezer made news by introducing a new “artist-centric” royalty model with Universal Music Group. The model focuses on paying out more royalties to established — or at least credible artists — as a way to combat the flood of AI-generated copycat and coattail tunes.

“The company acknowledges the challenges posed by AI-generated low-quality content,” writes Music Business Worldwide, noting it is maintaining a balancing act of using AI to improve the service while also protecting users from parasitic tunes.