Spotify’s new audiobook recap feature uses AI to remind you of the story so far

Spotify is launching a caller AI diagnostic for audiobooks that summarizes what you’ve already heard without needing to rewind. The institution likens the feature, called Recaps, to a “previously on” conception astatine the commencement of episodes successful a TV series. 

Recaps volition beryllium disposable automatically successful the iOS app for a constricted fig of English-language audiobooks, with plans to grow to much audiobooks successful an unspecified clip frame. While the Recap fastener is ever contiguous connected supported titles, you volition person to perceive to much than 15–20 minutes of the audiobook to get a summary, according to the Spotify blog station connected the feature. After that, Recaps volition beryllium “regularly updated” arsenic you advancement done the audiobook. It’s “designed to assistance radical decorativeness the books they start,” the institution says successful the blog. 

True-crime writer J.H. Markert called the diagnostic “an audio bookmark that speaks” successful the institution blog. “Using it erstwhile blew my mind. As blase arsenic it is smart, this diagnostic is simply a indispensable for immoderate audiobook lovers retired there.”

Spotify made wide that Recaps uses AI, but maintains that the archetypal works — including the publication contented and dependable narration — stay protected. “We are not utilizing audiobook contented for LLM grooming purposes oregon dependable generation, and Recaps bash not replicate narration oregon regenerate the archetypal audiobook successful immoderate way,” Spotify’s probe manager of LLMs, Paul Bennett, wrote successful the blog post. 

In February, Spotify partnered with AI institution ElevenLabs to bring to the level much AI-narrated audiobooks. But the institution has faced backlash for its dilatory absorption to the proliferation of AI slop successful its euphony platform. In September, it released policies aiming to tamp down connected slop with amended AI detection tools and disclosure of AI successful opus creation. Spotify besides began moving with euphony labels connected “responsible” AI euphony tools without offering details connected what those mightiness be.