Google News Audio Briefing Rolls Out on Android With New ‘Listen’ Tab

Google has begun the process of implementing the new Google News Audio Briefing feature on Android, which brings along a separate “Listen” tab in the Google News app. This modification comes as a result of an announcement made last week and forms part of a trial program that is designed to use AI-based functionalities to help get the attention of the readers by publishers.

The program is a collaboration between Google and news organizations around the globe, wherein the latter are allowed to explore new formats from within the Google News. The company is not only testing audio briefings for those users who like to listen to the news but also providing short written overviews generated by AI to give quick context to the readers before they click through.

The newly added Listen tab is located as the fourth section in the Google News app and is indicated with a headphone icon that has a sparkly AI. The user interface for the audio player, which slides up when the tab is tapped, is designed on Material 3 Expressive and features play and pause controls, playback speed options, 15-second rewind, 30-second skip, and a button to switch to the next topic among other functionalities. There is also a feedback option provided in the menu for the users, with Google clearly stating that the audio briefing is AI-generated, and that it could have mistakes.

While a story is playing, the headline is displayed prominently along with an option to view the featured article or explore full coverage from multiple sources. The audio continues playing in the background, supported by a mini player above the app’s bottom bar and standard controls in the notification shade.

The audio briefings follow an Audio Overview format, featuring two AI hosts discussing multiple stories. A standard briefing lasts approximately 10 to 15 minutes and gets its content from the newspapers taking part in the project, which include The Guardian, The Times of India, The Washington Post, Der Spiegel, and El País, among others.

Previously in Discover, Google had tried out a similar feature called Daily Listen, but the incorporation of audio right into the News app is thought to provide a more concentrated experience. The Audio Briefing is currently appearing for users in the United States with Google News version 5.146.x on Android, with a wider rollout likely in the coming weeks.