New Delhi: Google has recently reported that it is going to roll out its latest Google News Audio Briefing feature on Android devices. It is a listening-focused option for users who prefer audio updates over reading. The feature was first announced last week as part of the pilot programme in which Google is working with news publishers worldwide to test how AI-powered tools could change the way people consume news. The rollout also adds a latest Listen tab inside the Google News application. Google has tested audio updates through the Daily Listen feature in the Discover feed. The Audio Briefing is now being spotted in the US with version 5.146.x of the Google News application on Android.
Audio Briefing is an AI-generated summary of the day’s news, presented in the audio format. It pulls stories from multiple publishers and combines them into a single briefing, which gives users an overview before they choose to read full articles. The reports also suggested that Google stated that the feature is experimental, and it includes a clear disclaimer that AI-generated content can make mistakes. The Google News application consists of a fourth tab called Listen, marked by a headphones icon with an AI badge. The three existing tab options include Home, following and Newsstand. As per some reports, opening the tab brings up an audio player that slides up from the bottom of the screen.
The audio player gives options to pause or play, change playback speed, rewind by 15 seconds, skip forward by 30 seconds or jump to the next topic. There is also a feedback option, enabling users to report issues or share thoughts on the AI-generated briefing. The headline appears at the top, along with the button to view the featured article. Another option lets the users explore related stories under Full Coverage. The audio player can be minimised into a smaller bar, enabling users to continue browsing Google News or use other applications while the briefing plays in the background. Standard playback controls also appear in the notification panel.
