Google Tests Search Query With Audio Overviews

Google Search results will now include Audio Overviews as part of a new Search Labs project, after NotebookLM, the Gemini app, and Discover’s Daily Listen.

Google Search revealed on Friday that it is testing Audio Overviews for specific search queries. Google’s AI-based research and note-taking assistant, NotebookLM, was the first to use the capability.

According to the IT giant, Audio Overviews will provide consumers with an additional method of absorbing and comprehending information by utilizing its most recent Gemini models.

Gemini models will be used by Google Search’s Audio Overviews to “generate quick, conversational audio overviews for certain search queries.” Giving you a “lay of the land” on subjects you’re unfamiliar with is the goal. Additionally, it can “assimilate information whether you’re multitasking or simply prefer an audio experience.”

In a blog post, Google stated that “whether you’re multitasking or just prefer an audio experience, an audio overview can help you get a lay of the land, offering a convenient, hands-free way to absorb information.”

Today marks the launch of the functionality in Google’s experimental program, Labs. According to the business, if Google determines that a brief Audio Overview will be helpful based on a user’s particular inquiry, they would be given the chance to create one. A basic audio player with play/pause controls, a volume button, and the ability to change the playback speed will appear after you create an Audio Overview.

To indicate where it is obtaining the information, Google will show links in the audio player. After listening to an Audio Overview, you can click on the links to further explore a topic if you’d like to learn more.

You can rate each Audio Overview and the entire Labs experiment with a thumbs up or down.

With NotebookLM’s Audio Overviews, users may use AI virtual hosts to create podcasts from shared documents, including legal briefs or course readings. In March, Google also introduced Audio Overviews to Gemini.

Google’s AI-generated summaries for specific Google Search queries, known as AI Overviews, are expanded upon by Audio Overviews in Search. Google’s Audio Overviews are aimed at those who prefer more accessible information sources or are auditory learners.

It is important to note that the statement today follows a Wall Street Journal report that claimed that news publishers were losing traffic due to Google’s AI Overviews and other AI-powered products.

Google gives the example of “how do noise cancellation headphones work.” To find the “Generate Audio Overview” button, scroll down the results page. Google uses the same two host voices and format as the other experiences, and it can take up to 40 seconds. The time of the one we produced was slightly more than four minutes.

A basic audio player with play/pause, volume controls, fast mute, and a speed range of.25x to 2x will be provided. You can give it a thumbs up or down and learn more by scrolling through the “Based on [x] sites” carousel underneath.

For US English, this is accessible on desktop and mobile devices. The Search Labs experiment is available for you to sign up for here.