YouTube is officially launching an AI-powered playlist generator for Premium subscribers on iOS and Android. This new tool empowers users to create custom music collections instantly by simply entering text or voice prompts, moving beyond traditional manual curation.
How to Create AI Playlists on YouTube
To access the feature, users can navigate to the Library tab within the YouTube Music app, tap the “New” button, and select the “AI playlist” option. The system is designed to interpret specific natural language requests, such as “raging death metal,” “90s classic hits,” “progressive house mix for a chill party,” or “sad post rock.”
YouTube Premium and @YouTubeMusic Premium users can now instantly turn an idea, mood or genre into a personalized playlist using our new AI playlist feature 🎧
Here's how to use it:
1. On Android & iOS, tap the “New” button in the Library tab of YouTube Music
2. Select “AI… pic.twitter.com/YR1GVCqwvu
— Updates From YouTube (@UpdatesFromYT) February 9, 2026
Strategic Shift Toward AI Curation
The rollout follows a period of experimentation for the platform. As early as July 2024, YouTube began testing custom radio station creation via prompts in the United States. This move aligns the platform with industry competitors like Spotify, Amazon Music, and Deezer, all of which have integrated similar generative AI capabilities to enhance user discovery and engagement.
Expanding the Value of YouTube Premium
This update is part of a broader effort to increase the appeal of the YouTube Premium subscription. The company is actively differentiating its paid experience, recently testing restrictions that limit access to song lyrics for ad-supported users. While YouTube characterized this as a limited experiment, it highlights a clear strategy to drive conversions.
The focus on premium features appears to be paying off. Earlier this month, Google reported that its subscription business has reached a milestone of 325 million paying users across both Google One and YouTube Premium, underscoring the vital role these services play in the company’s revenue growth.