Google is rolling out a new feature to the Google News app, which will cater to those who prefer listening to headlines rather than reading. It provides a hands-free audio listening experience and helps News users catch up on the latest news during their commute. The feature was first announced last week as part of a pilot programme, and a new report has revealed that the Google News Audio Briefing tool is beginning to roll out on Android.
Google News Audio Briefing: Here’s how it works
According to a report by 9to5Google, Audio Briefing is an AI-generated summary of the day’s news, presented in an audio format. The report also adds that the latest Google News app update has introduced a new Listen tab that provides the latest Google News app update. If a user taps on the tab, an audio player slides up from the bottom of the screen, which follows Google’s Material 3 Expressive design with large playback buttons and clear controls.
Further, as per images posted in the report, while a story is playing, the headline appears at the top, along with a button to view the featured article. The tab also lets users explore related stories under Full Coverage. In the app, the audio player can be minimised at the bottom into a small bar, allowing users to continue browsing other relevant content on the app or switch to other apps.
A typical briefing is mentioned to run around 10–15 minutes and would cover multiple stories. At the moment, Audio Briefing uses a conversational format where two AI hosts discuss the news, making the audio more lively. It is currently available in the 5.146.x version of the Google News app for Android.
Discover the latest Business News, Sensex, and Nifty updates. Obtain Personal Finance insights, tax queries, and expert opinions on Moneycontrol or download the Moneycontrol App to stay updated!
Find the best of Al News in one place, specially curated for you every weekend.
Stay on top of the latest tech trends and biggest startup news.