Spotify Brings Interactive AI Conversations To Its Listening Experience

Spotify Expands Its AI Playbook

Spotify is taking another step toward making artificial intelligence a core part of how users discover and control audio. On Tuesday, the company announced that Premium subscribers can now hold interactive conversations with the app to find music, podcasts and audiobooks.

The feature is rolling out in beta to English-speaking Premium users aged 18 and over in the U.S., Ireland and Sweden on iOS and Android.

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How The New Feature Works

Rather than relying on a traditional search bar, users can type or speak to Spotify and engage in back-and-forth conversations within the Home and Now Playing views. The experience is designed to make content discovery more natural and context-aware.

Spotify says users can ask for recommendations, revisit their listening history or learn more about songs, artists, podcasts and audiobooks. They can also ask questions about their own listening habits, such as when they first played a track or which genres they stream most often.

AI Becomes A Bigger Part Of Discovery

Spotify confirmed to TechCrunch that the feature combines the company’s own AI technology with models from multiple providers, selecting the most suitable system depending on the task.

The launch builds on Spotify’s broader AI strategy, which already includes its AI DJ, AI-powered playlist features and integrations with third-party chatbots such as ChatGPT.

A More Personal Listening Assistant

Users can give open-ended prompts such as “play some artists I haven’t heard before” and refine the results through follow-up requests, including adding a specific artist, focusing on recent releases or changing the mood of the recommendations.

The assistant can also perform actions such as saving songs, adding tracks to the playback queue and following artists directly within the conversation.

The latest rollout reflects Spotify’s wider push to replace traditional search and navigation with a more conversational experience, turning AI into a personalised listening assistant rather than simply another discovery tool.

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Shein Targets $25 Billion Valuation In Hong Kong IPO As Growth Slows

by News Editor

August 17, 2026

Shein is reportedly targeting a valuation of around $25 billion in its planned Hong Kong IPO, a sharp decline from the nearly $100 billion valuation the online fashion retailer achieved in a 2022 fundraising round.

Two people familiar with the plans said the company was likely to target about $25 billion, while another source put the expected range at $25 billion to $28 billion based on the proposed price band.

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IPO Valuation Falls Sharply

Shein plans to sell up to 8% of its shares in the offering, according to a person familiar with the plans. At a $25 billion valuation, that would translate into an IPO of as much as $2 billion.

The latest target is also below the $30 billion to $40 billion valuation the company was seeking earlier this month as it began meeting with potential investors.

Founded in China in 2012 and now headquartered in Singapore, Shein sells low-cost clothing to consumers in about 160 countries. The company is expected to launch its long-awaited Hong Kong IPO later this week.

Trade Restrictions Weigh On Growth

Shein’s valuation has come under pressure as major markets tighten rules affecting low-cost e-commerce shipments. The European Union, for example, has moved to impose additional fees on cheap parcels from platforms such as Shein and Temu. EU Tightens Rules On Low-Cost E-Commerce Parcels

In the U.S., the removal of an import duty exemption for small packages has also affected the company. Shein reported a $99 million quarterly loss in the first quarter of 2026 as sales growth slowed, while a one-time accounting charge further weighed on its results. Shein Reports First-Quarter Loss Ahead Of IPO

Investors Question Shein’s Growth Prospects

The steep reduction in valuation reflects growing concerns over slower growth, higher trade costs, regulatory pressure and stronger competition across global e-commerce.

Some investors who reviewed Shein’s recent financial statements or attended IPO presentations told Reuters they were skeptical that the company could return to the growth rates that supported its $98.2 billion valuation in 2022. Shein’s Slowing Growth Tests Investor Appetite

A lower IPO valuation could also affect Shein’s existing investors. Under the terms of its IPO filing, the company may have to issue additional shares to certain pre-IPO investors if its valuation falls below agreed thresholds.

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