Overview

• YouTube launched AI-generated music hosts in YouTube Music through its new Labs program, delivering real-time commentary, trivia, and artist backstories during playback.
• Access is limited to select U.S.-based participants with Premium subscribers prioritized, and eligible users can join a waitlist.
• Opt-in listeners see a Beyond the Beat button that triggers the narration and can be snoozed for an hour or a day.
• YouTube warns the feature may contain mistakes, quality may vary, features can be disabled without notice, and user feedback may be used to improve services.
• The rollout counters Spotify’s AI DJ introduced in 2023 and has raised privacy and authenticity concerns among industry observers.