Spotify takes on Google’s NotebookLM with its new app

In the ever-evolving landscape of AI, companies are increasingly integrating services like email, calendars, and notes to deliver personalized daily briefings in both text and audio formats. Spotify is entering this arena with the launch of its new standalone desktop application, Studio by Spotify Labs. This innovative app allows users to delve into topics by creating personalized podcasts. Spotify is enhancing its podcast generation tool with features that provide personal context. Notably, the app includes an AI agent capable of browsing the web and retrieving personal information to tailor podcasts specifically for users. For example, it can generate a daily briefing or a podcast based on your emails and schedule. Users can make detailed requests, such as, "Create a daily audio brief for my road trip through Italy. Outline my day based on my calendar and bookings. Suggest a memorable dinner spot nearby, and conclude with a podcast recommendation for my drive." These AI-generated podcasts are stored in the user's Spotify library and synchronized across devices, ensuring accessibility. However, Spotify cautions that since this is an early preview, the AI may produce inaccuracies and unreliable content. The app is currently being rolled out in research preview across more than 20 markets, with access limited to users aged 18 and over. Studio by Spotify Labs is set to compete directly with Google’s NotebookLM, which popularized podcast generation using selected source materials in recent years. Google has also introduced a feature for creating daily podcasts based on its Discover feed. The trend of using podcasts for topic exploration and daily briefings has gained traction, with companies like Adobe and ElevenLabs, as well as applications such as Hero and Huxe, entering the space. Spotify's desktop app follows its recent launch of a command-line tool aimed at users of coding platforms like Claude Code and Codex, enabling personal podcast creation and library saving. With the introduction of Studio and its personal podcast capabilities, Spotify is broadening its reach beyond coders, making this technology accessible to all users. As Spotify aims to deepen its involvement in audio experiences, the potential for future integrations and functionalities, such as capturing system audio for notetaking, remains an exciting prospect. Startups like Rewind and Cluely have already ventured into meeting notetaking, indicating a growing interest in this area that Spotify may explore in the future.