Google Play Music receives new UI and smarter playlists

Google Play Music is finally receiving a new makeover today, which brings major changes not only to the app’s user interface but also to how search results and recommendations are discovered. Google has announced that this update will arrive for Play Music on Android, iOS, and the web.

Much of the upgrade is based around Google’s new machine learning technology that it is rolling out to the platform. The algorithms not only figure out what music you like, but can also combine this with data like your location, current activity, and even the weather, to create personalized music playback. Google says that its machine learning tool plugs into other Google products to help discover more about you. Those concerned about privacy will be pleased to note that it seems that listener have to opt in to the service.

“When you opt in, we’ll deliver personalized music based on where you are and why you are listening — relaxing at home, powering through at work, commuting, flying, exploring new cities, heading out on the town, and everything in between,”

With more data available, Google has made some significant changes to the Play Music user interface that will help listeners discover new music more easily. The home screen now features a couple of panels that will offer up new music and playlists that are tailored to your tastes and current activity. Google may present some new songs to get you pumped for your workout, or offer up some upbeat tunes to get your weekend off to a start on Friday evening.

On top of the new UI and playlist tools, Google Play Music also includes an offline listening playlist for subscribers. This list will be packed full of your most recently heard tracks. These new features should help Google Play Music better compete with the likes of Apple Music and Spotify, the latter of which is pushing its own personalized playlists with its new ‘Just for You’ feature.

This Google Play Music update will begin rolling out this week across Android, iOS, and the web, to listeners in 62 countries. So keep an eye out for that update notification in the next few days.