Google Gemini is singing a new tune courtesy of Spotify and the new Gemini extension for Android devices. The AI assistant will find and play music for you on the streaming platform without the need for specific command phrases, instead relying on the same natural language you can use to converse with it in other circumstances.
Gemini Extensions links the AI to your personal account information on Google and certain third-party services. Spotify joins several Google services, such as YouTube Music and Google Messages, and WhatsApp as an extension. The Spotify extension takes over from Google Assistant in some ways, eliminating the endless scrolling through playlists or problems with misremembering song names – a simple conversation with Gemini will solve it. You can ask Gemini to play a song or call up an artist, album or playlist. You can also go broader and ask for music that matches whatever you are doing, such as running or studying.
However, Gemini is not a complete replacement for the Spotify app. Gemini can’t create a custom playlist or radio station for you, but it will be a lot easier to find the kind of music you’re looking for because you can discuss it with Gemini like you would with a human DJ.
Set up Spotify with Gemini
It’s relatively easy to connect Gemini to Spotify if you have an Android device. You just need to link your Google and Spotify accounts and enable Gemini Apps Activity. This will store your Gemini interactions for up to three days before deleting them. It also only works in English for now and is limited to Android, so you don’t need to use the Gemini web app or iOS app to play Spotify songs.
An additional caveat is that if Gemini is already linked to music streaming services like YouTube Music, you’ll need to mention that you want the song to play on Spotify the first time. After that, Gemini will make Spotify the default as the most recently used service until you go back to YouTube Music or something else.
As with WhatsApp, the Spotify integration shows how Google is keen to reshape its ecosystem around Gemini and other AI programs. The company has also made Android and mobile devices the cornerstone and testing ground for Gemini’s features, creating a rivalry with Apple and Apple Intelligence.