$w("#audioPlayer") not working

Yes, however it is still affected. As it is only Google Chrome doing it, it is a Google Chrome issue and not Wix.

If you had read your links provided.
https://developers.google.com/web/updates/2017/06/play-request-was-interrupted

Did you just stumble upon this unexpected media error in the Chrome DevTools JavaScript Console?
Uncaught (in promise) DOMException: The play() request was interrupted by a call to pause().
or
Uncaught (in promise) DOMException: The play() request was interrupted by a new load request.

Example: Play & Pause

<video id="video" preload="none" src="https://example.com/file.mp4"></video>
 
<script>
  // Show loading animation.
  var playPromise = video.play();
 
  if (playPromise !== undefined) {
    playPromise.then(_ => {
      // Automatic playback started!
      // Show playing UI.
      // We can now safely pause video...
      video.pause();
    })
    .catch(error => {
      // Auto-play was prevented
      // Show paused UI.
    });
  }
</script>