The Google News Audio Briefing is now available on Android devices, marking a significant addition to the platform. As part of a new pilot initiative, Google is collaborating with various news publishers globally to assess the potential of AI in engaging audiences more effectively.
This feature includes an audio tab called “Listen,” which introduces an audio player designed with Material 3 Expressive. Users can control playback with options for rewinding and fast-forwarding, as well as adjusting playback speed. The briefing typically lasts around 13 minutes and covers multiple stories, with highlights from notable publications such as Der Spiegel and The Guardian.
The rollout begins today in the United States with version 5.146.x of the Google News app. The feature aims to enhance user experience by providing AI-generated summaries and audio briefings, although Google warns that there may be inaccuracies in the AI-generated content.