YouTube Music is experimenting with AI-powered hosts that provide trivia, background information, and commentary during music playback. This feature, dubbed 'Beyond the Beat', is part of YouTube Labs, a new initiative for testing AI features with Premium subscribers. The AI hosts aim to create a more interactive listening experience, similar to a radio DJ.
Currently, access to YouTube Labs and the AI hosts is limited to a select group of US-based users. Users can activate the AI commentary via an AI sparkle button within the YouTube Music app. While active, the AI host will provide commentary by default but can be snoozed for an hour or a full day. YouTube has cautioned that these AI hosts may make mistakes and that the feature may be removed without notice as it is still experimental.
This move is part of a broader push by YouTube into AI-driven features, with YouTube Labs acting as a testing ground for innovations beyond just music commentary. YouTube is gathering user feedback to refine these features before wider deployment.
