Spotify might soon be able to analyze users’ voices to offer the perfect playlist of songs to suit their emotions. That’s based on recent reports detailing a new technology patented by the company.
Specifically, the patent — filed in 2018 and only just recently granted — pertains to speech recognition. Or, more succinctly, to technology that lets Spotify “make observations” about users’ environment and emotions using that technology.
That would include recognition of clues whether or not the user is sad, happy, angry, or neutral, for example. With added connotations such as intonation, stress, and voice rhythm. But it would also effectively gather details about whether the user appears to be alone, in a small or large group, or at a party. And age, gender, and accent would be considered as well.
This wouldn’t just provide emotions-based songs at random either
Now, according to the patent, all of that would serve a couple of purposes. Not least of all, it would help assist the company’s existing algorithms. Those are largely based on previous listening, selected preferences, and what friends are listening to. Taken in combination, the data could provide the most accurate and pertinent playlist recommendations on offer in any streaming music service.
Summarily, the technology could potentially allow Spotify to nail down the perfect playlist for its users. Regardless of how they might be feeling when they start the app or web service.
Spotify might not ever implement this at all
Now, for ethical reasons, Spotify has indicated in the documentation and reports reveal the features may not ever release. Or, at the very least, the company won’t release these types of features without due consideration for users’ privacy.
There are ethical implications associated with collecting and analyzing voice data and digital history. And many cases have been brought before various courts attesting to that. Ultimately, that’s led to even the biggest tech giants such as Google unenrolling all users in automatic collection and analysis. So, Spotify has “vowed” not to conduct research or implement applications that “violate ethical standards of data usage.” Or that is “not transparent about privacy.”