Google is experimenting with a new AI-driven feature called Daily Listen, designed to create bite-sized personalized podcasts based on your Search and Discover feed history. According to 9to5Google, this feature is now available through Search Labs for Android and iOS users in the US.
What Is Daily Listen?
Daily Listen synthesizes your search data and interactions with Google Discover to determine news and topics that align with your interests. These are then summarized into an audio overview, roughly five minutes long, providing a quick and tailored briefing of current events.
The feature shares similarities with Google’s Audio Overviews for its NotebookLM project, including key functionality such as:
- Audio and Transcript Options: Includes a text transcript alongside the audio summary, allowing users to follow along visually.
- Playback Controls: Offers pause, play, mute, rewind, and skip functionalities, putting users in control of how they consume content.
How It Works
Opt-in users can find Daily Listen in the personalized widget carousel beneath the Search bar within the Google app. The UI includes:
- A Related Stories tab at the bottom of the audio player, providing additional content linked to the overview.
- Thumbs Up/Down Buttons to allow feedback on individual stories and refine future recommendations.
- An option to explore new topics, encouraging broader discovery while tailoring to user interests.
Potential Rollout
Google hasn’t confirmed whether Daily Listen will roll out beyond this experimental phase. However, considering the success of the AI Search Overviews feature—initially tested through Search Labs before becoming publicly available—it seems likely this feature could follow a similar trajectory.
Implications
If broadly adopted, Daily Listen could change how we consume personalized news. It caters to busy users who prefer quick audio summaries over lengthy text articles. However, the effectiveness of this feature hinges on transparency and ease of opting out, areas where previous AI-driven features like AI Overviews faced criticism.
Would you try a feature like this? Or is it just another layer of algorithmic personalization that could feel invasive? Let us know in the comments!
