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Google tests new AI audio feature that gives users a 5-minute news rundown

Daily Listen is an AI-generated audio overview based on a user’s Discover feed and their news searches.

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In September last year, Google launched NotebookLM’s Audio Overviews. (File photo)

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Google is experimenting with a new AI feature called ‘Daily Listen’ that gives users a five-minute audio overview of stories and topics that they might be interested in.

The AI-generated audio overview is based on a user’s Discover feed and their news searches. Daily Listen also provides an AI-generated transcript of the audio overview, accompanied with cover art.

The feature is available for both Android and iOS users in the US. It can be enabled by going to the Search Labs section by clicking on the triangular beaker at the top-left corner of the Google app.

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A day after it is enabled, users will see the Daily Listen card labeled ‘Made for you’ as part of the Space carousel underneath the Google Search bar. Clicking on the card launches a full-screen player that also asks users for feedback by giving it a thumbs up or thumbs down.

The personalised AI feature further gives users certain controls to play, pause, rewind, and mute the audio.

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In September last year, Google launched NotebookLM’s Audio Overviews which uses AI to convert documents into 10-minute podcasts with ‘AI hosts’ that can summarise the uploaded material, make connections between topics, and have a back-and-forth banter.

A few weeks ago, Google announced an interesting upgrade to the Audio Overviews feature in Notebook LM. Users can now join the conversation between AI hosts by “calling in” to the podcast. They can ask the AI hosts to explain something differently or for additional information.

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“It’s like having a personal tutor or guide who listens attentively, and then responds directly, drawing from the knowledge in your sources,” Google said. The AI note-taking app is powered by Gemini 1.5 Pro as well as the experimental version of Gemini 2.0 Flash.