Google Chrome for Android may soon introduce an exciting new feature that utilizes AI-generated voices to create informative podcasts about any webpage you visit. This development was highlighted on the r/google subreddit, where users discovered that the beta version of Chrome now includes an upgraded AI overview that reads aloud the content of the page. Unlike the previous version, which merely recited the text, this innovative feature creates a podcast episode that summarizes the information found on the webpage. The functionality involves tapping a “Listen to this page” option in the side menu, which loads a podcast episode.
For instance, users can experience a podcast about the Wikipedia article for Google Chrome. While the audio quality may be somewhat stilted—such as the peculiar pronunciation of “ChromeOS” as “Chromie-O-S”—it’s important to note that the technology behind it is impressive. Users can easily switch between the podcast format and a traditional narration using a single voice. This new feature builds upon a recent addition to Google Search Labs, which allows users to summarize content directly from search results.
However, the Chrome version is more streamlined, as it focuses solely on the active webpage. Users have noted that this podcast feature functions swiftly, with episodes loading almost instantly compared to the previous version which could take up to 40 seconds to generate a report. Despite its engaging nature, the practical implications of this feature remain a bit unclear. While offering page summaries in a podcast format is an interesting idea, it’s uncertain if this aligns with user needs.
Though it may seem somewhat unnecessary, the quirky and entertaining aspect of generating instantaneous podcasts makes it a fun addition to Chrome for Android.
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