YouTube is introducing a new feature that lets users create customized playlist art using generative AI, the Google-owned company announced on Tuesday. The new experimental feature is rolling out starting today for English language users in the United States. The company plans to bring the feature to additional regions and languages in the future.
To get started, you have to click on the current default image of a playlist of yours. From there, you can scroll through a number of themes, such as travel, nature, landscape, fantasy, animals and humor. After you select a theme, you can scroll through a selection of prompts. For instance, if you select the animal theme, you can choose to receive an image of a pug “in the style of a Medieval Gothic painting” or “in the style of a Pop Art painting.
Image Credits: YouTube Music
Once you have made your selections, you can click the “Create” button. You will then receive a series of AI-generated images that you can choose from. After you have found one you like, you can click “save” to have it appear as your playlist art.
“The guided experience allows users to effortlessly explore from a range of visual themes and options to create one-of-a-kind cover art that expresses the uniqueness of your personal playlists,” the company wrote in a blog post. “Struggling to find the perfect artwork for your 90’s R&B-inspired morning commute playlist? Don’t worry, we got you.”
YouTube Music also shared that in the coming months, it’s going to launch a new feature on the Home tab that makes it easier for users to quickly jump back in and listen to the songs and artists that they have had on repeat. Once users open up the app, they will see their recent favorites at the top of the Home tab. The feature will bring YouTube Music’s homepage somewhat in-line with Spotify’s, which lets users quickly jump back in and listen to their recent favorites. The company says the launch is part of its efforts to redesign parts of the YouTube Music app to help users easily find and play their favorite music.
The new features come as YouTube Music has been introducing new functionality to its service over the past few months. The service recently launched a TikTok-style short-form personalized video feed called “Samples.” Each clip in the feed offers a glimpse into the artist, music video and feel of a song recommended to you. YouTube Music also recently rolled out timed lyrics that let you follow the words on-screen as you listen, along with Comments, so users can express their thoughts in the app.