Spotify adds a new, less repetitive shuffle, plus audiobook recaps

Spotify is enhancing its music streaming experience with a revamped shuffle feature that minimizes the repetition of suggested tracks. Originally launched in 2023, the Smart Shuffle option allowed premium users to have songs added to their playlist queue based on their listening habits. However, this feature could not be turned off until now. With the latest update, the new shuffle setting will automatically be the default for premium subscribers, ensuring that users encounter fewer songs from their recent listening history and are introduced to more new tracks. Those who prefer the traditional Smart Shuffle can easily adjust their settings by navigating to Settings > Playback and selecting the 'Standard' option under Shuffle Mode. In addition to this shuffle innovation, Spotify has introduced a feature for both free and premium users that allows them to select any song to play next while shuffling without altering the queue order. Lauren Saunders, Spotify’s product director for personalization, explained that the nature of randomness means that listeners might frequently hear the same songs. "Real randomness can often feel clumpy, leading to clusters of similar songs. We’ve now created hundreds of truly random versions of your playlist and score them based on freshness and variety, ensuring a more dynamic listening experience," she stated. Moreover, Spotify is launching an AI-driven recap feature for audiobooks, designed to help users easily catch up on stories. This feature provides a summary of the plot at the top of the audiobook's page, activated after a user has listened to a minimum of 15-20 minutes of content. The recap feature will be updated regularly as users progress through the book. Importantly, Spotify clarified that it does not utilize audiobook content for training models, and the recaps do not mimic the original narration. Currently, this feature is in beta on iOS for a selection of English-language audiobooks.