Apple is bringing a major update to Apple Music with its latest mobile operating system beta. As part of the iOS 26.4 developer and public beta releases, Apple has introduced an AI-powered playlist creation tool — joining other streaming services in harnessing artificial intelligence to help listeners discover and curate music more intuitively.
What Is Playlist Playground?
The new feature, officially labeled Playlist Playground, appears inside the Apple Music app for users testing iOS 26.4 beta. Instead of manually selecting tracks one by one, users can now generate a fully customized playlist using simple text prompts.
For example, typing prompts such as “upbeat workout mix,” “calm evening songs,” or “disco classics” instantly produces a curated list of approximately 25 songs with a custom title. Users can also refine and edit existing playlists with additional prompts, and even choose cover art and descriptions for their AI-generated playlists.
This tool is powered by Apple Intelligence, the company’s proprietary AI system, which downloads the necessary models in the background before the feature becomes available.
How It Works
Once users install the iOS 26.4 beta, they can access Playlist Playground by opening Apple Music, navigating to the Library tab, and tapping the “+” button to create a new playlist. The interface prompts the user to enter text describing a mood, activity, genre, or theme — and Apple Music does the rest.
The flexibility of text-based input means users aren’t restricted to preset categories; they can tailor requests however they like, from nostalgic themes to specific vibes or scenarios.
Competing With AI Tools on Other Platforms
With Playlist Playground, Apple is stepping into a space that other major streaming platforms have already begun exploring. Services like Spotify and YouTube Music have rolled out AI playlist features that generate personalized mixes and suggestions using text prompts and listening history.
While similar in intent, Apple’s implementation emphasizes ease of use and user control through natural language prompts — reflecting the company’s focus on intuitive interaction and seamless integration within iOS.
Additional Apple Music Improvements
The iOS 26.4 beta also includes other enhancements to Apple Music alongside Playlist Playground:
- Updated album and playlist interfaces that use artwork-based backgrounds for a more immersive look.
- A new “Concerts Near You” section, helping users discover live shows based on location.
These updates reflect Apple’s broader effort to modernize the Apple Music experience and give listeners more ways to explore music and events.
Availability and Next Steps
At the time of reporting, Playlist Playground is available to developers and public beta testers running iOS 26.4. Apple is expected to roll out this feature to all Apple Music users with the full release of iOS 26.4, likely in March or April 2026.
If widely adopted, this tool could reshape how users engage with playlists — shifting from manual curation to AI-assisted creativity, making music discovery faster and more personalized than ever.
