Google announced the launch of a new feature “Audio Overviews” in the search engine, available for testing in the Search Labs program. The option allows users to receive short audio overviews of answers to some search queries using the latest AI model Gemini. Users can enable the experiment in Labs and see the “Generate Audio Overview” button under the “People also ask” section on the search results page.
After pressing the button, the system generates an audio overview in podcast format, where two virtual hosts discuss the chosen topic. Creating the audio takes up to forty seconds, and the duration of the finished segment can last over four minutes. The built-in audio player allows users to play, pause, adjust volume, and change playback speed from a quarter to two times.
During playback, links to the sources used by the model to form the overview are displayed under the player, allowing users to learn more about the topic. Users can also rate the quality of the audio overview by leaving positive or negative feedback directly in Search Labs.
The feature is currently available only in English for users in the US on mobile devices and computers. Google notes that “Audio Overviews” is particularly useful for those who prefer to consume information audibly or want to receive answers in a convenient, hands-free format while multitasking.
