Google Drive adds Gemini-powered Audio Overviews to turn PDFs into podcast-style summaries

Google Gemini

Google has introduced a new Gemini-powered feature for Drive that can automatically create audio summaries of PDF documents. The update brings the same Audio Overview capability previously seen in NotebookLM and Google Search directly to Drive, allowing users to listen to conversational, podcast-like overviews of lengthy documents.

Within the Drive PDF viewer on the web, users will now see a new Audio Overview button on the top bar. Once selected, Gemini generates a spoken summary that typically runs between two and ten minutes, depending on the document’s length and complexity. When complete, the summary can be played immediately through the Gemini side panel or accessed later through a dedicated “Audio overviews” folder in Drive. The folder syncs across devices, making playback available on both desktop and mobile platforms.

Google says the feature is designed to help users quickly absorb the contents of dense or text-heavy PDFs such as business reports, contracts, research papers, or meeting transcripts without needing to read them line by line. The Audio Overview uses the same language model technology that powers Gemini in NotebookLM, converting key insights into a natural, conversational format.

In addition to playback inside Drive, users receive an email notification once an audio file is ready, making it easy to review or share summaries as part of their workflow. The company notes that Audio Overviews currently support only English, though support for additional languages is expected in future updates.

The rollout begins this week for Google Workspace Business Standard and Plus, as well as Enterprise Standard and Plus users. It’s also available to Google One AI Pro and AI Ultra subscribers. Combined with the existing “Listen” feature in Google Docs, Audio Overviews further extend Google’s push to make its productivity suite more conversational and AI-driven.