Google is trying something new. The company is testing “Audio News” briefings for Google Assistant users. This test is happening in the United States for English speakers. People can listen to news updates instead of reading them. Google Assistant will read the news aloud.
(Google Tests “Audio News” Briefings in Assistant)
This feature gives short summaries of the news. The summaries come from different publishers. Publishers like The Associated Press and Reuters are involved. Others include The New York Times and CNBC. Google chooses which stories to include. The selection is based on what is important and timely.
Users can ask Assistant to “listen to the news”. They can also try “tell me the news”. The briefing will play. It includes a few top stories. Each story is short. This is meant for busy people. They can get updates while doing other things. It’s hands-free and convenient.
Google wants to see if users like this feature. They are testing it with a small group. The company will gather feedback. They want to know if people find it useful. They also want to know if the audio format works well. Changes might happen based on this test.
(Google Tests “Audio News” Briefings in Assistant)
This audio news feature is not yet available everywhere. It is only for some users right now. Google plans to improve it over time. They hope to make it available more widely later. They are exploring new ways to deliver news.