Google is testing Audio Overviews in Search. The new feature lets users listen to quick summaries of certain queries using its latest Gemini AI models.
The launch is live now in Google Labs. Users will see an option to create a short Audio Overview when Google thinks it’s helpful. The player controls include play/pause, volume, and speed adjustment.
Google says the Audio Overview provides a "convenient, hands-free way to absorb information" for multitaskers or those who prefer audio. 
“An audio overview can help you get a lay of the land, offering a convenient, hands-free way to absorb information whether you’re multitasking or simply prefer an audio experience,” Google explained in a blog post.
Links to source material appear in the audio player, letting users dive deeper after listening. Listeners can rate each Audio Overview with a thumbs up or thumbs down, and provide feedback on the Labs experiment itself.
The tech previously showed up in Google’s AI note-taking tool NotebookLM, where users can generate AI-hosted podcasts from documents. Google brought Audio Overviews to Gemini last March.
This builds on Google’s existing AI-generated text summaries in Search, targeting auditory learners and improving accessibility.
The rollout comes shortly after a Wall Street Journal report that Google’s AI tools, including AI Overviews, are hurting traffic for news publishers.
Image Credits: Google
