Spotify is rolling out a new feature for audiobook listeners, introducing AI-powered “Recaps” designed to help users seamlessly return to stories they’ve paused – whether after a week, a long day, or a mid-chapter nap.
The tool generates short, tailored audio summaries based on where a listener last left off, borrowing the logic of a TV “previously on” to reduce friction and keep people engaged.
Launching in beta on iOS, Recaps are available for a limited set of English-language titles, with broader expansion planned once Spotify gathers listener and publisher feedback.
Designed to keep stories moving
Spotify says Recaps cover only the parts of the audiobook a listener has already heard, ensuring no spoilers, no rewinding and no re-listening just to remember plot points.
The company is pitching the feature as part of its push to make audiobooks more intuitive. “Recaps help you easily reengage with a story without needing to relisten,” the platform said.
Author J.H. Markert, whose book Spider to the Fly is among the early titles, called Recaps “an audio bookmark that speaks”, adding: “Using it once blew my mind. As sophisticated as it is smart, this feature is a must for any audiobook lovers out there.”
How it works
Recaps surface once a listener has spent 15–20 minutes with a book.
After that, Spotify updates summaries dynamically as progress builds, ensuring each Recap reflects the listener’s precise stopping point. Users simply tap the Recap button at the top of a book page to play the latest summary.
The tech is powered by AI but, according to Spotify, avoids the industry’s more contentious practices.
The company says audiobook files are not being used to train large language models or generate synthetic narration, with Recaps designed to complement – not replace – the original work.
Spotify developed the feature with publishing partners and says it sees Recaps as a way to drive both completion rates and deeper engagement.
Building habits for audiobook growth
For Spotify, Recaps sit inside a larger investment in audiobooks as a growth pillar.
The company believes the feature will help convert casual listeners into committed ones by removing the friction that often stops people from finishing long-form audio.
“We see endless potential to reimagine how people engage with books,” Spotify said, pointing to Recaps as an early example of tech that could strengthen ties between authors, publishers and listeners.
A wider rollout – including more titles, languages and platforms – will follow as the company refines the product.