Google Tests Audio Overviews

Google is experimenting with Audio Overviews in Search, allowing users to generate AI-powered spoken summaries of search results. This feature, powered by Google's Gemini AI model, provides short, conversational audio clips for select queries, offering a hands-free way to grasp unfamiliar topics. Users can access this feature through Search Labs in the U.S., where they may see a 'Generate Audio Overview' prompt on search results pages. The audio plays within a mini-player, accompanied by related webpages for deeper exploration.

This move reflects Google's push towards multimodal search experiences, aiming to cater to users who prefer audio consumption. While enhancing user accessibility, it also has the potential to keep users within Google's ecosystem for longer periods. The feature, previously introduced in NotebookLM, allows users to provide feedback on the audio clips, aiding in further refinement. Audio Overviews are available on both mobile and desktop devices for U.S. English users.