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ZDNET’s key takeaways
- Chrome for Android has a brand new characteristic in “Hearken to this web page.”
- As a substitute of conventional audio, you may hear a two-host podcast.
- The characteristic is now rolling out on a large scale.
Should you use Chrome’s learn aloud characteristic to hearken to articles as an alternative of studying them, you are about to note an enormous improve.
First noticed by Android Authority, Google has unveiled a brand new AI-powered characteristic for Chrome that takes any net web page and turns the textual content into podcast-style audio.
There may be an present “Hearken to this web page” characteristic, however it’s a regular computer-style voice. The brand new model has two hosts studying the textual content, making for a way more entertaining expertise.
Additionally: I examined this new AI podcast instrument to see if it will probably beat NotebookLM – here is the way it did
The characteristic appears to work quite a bit like Google’s audio summaries in NotebookLM. In an X publish displaying it in motion, two voices banter forwards and backwards concerning the content material of an online web page, even asking and answering questions. As a substitute of studying it straight by means of like the prevailing possibility, the brand new method is far more conversational. It nonetheless sounds very very similar to AI, however it’s much more nice to hearken to.
This reveal comes simply after Google introduced Gemini to Chrome for desktop, introducing a characteristic that permits you to ask Gemini to summarize the content material on a web page.
The right way to test for Chrome’s new learn aloud possibility
To see if in case you have the brand new characteristic, faucet the three-dot menu and select “Hearken to this web page.” You will see media management buttons and listen to a voice studying the article. If in case you have the brand new possibility, there is a small button on the underside left of the participant to toggle customary mode or AI mode. You might be positive about which mode you are on as a result of small textual content above the controls says “customary playback” or “AI playback.”
Additionally: I used NotebookLM for a whole month – here is why it truly is a recreation changer
I did not have the brand new audio possibility but on any of my units after I checked, so I am unable to attest to the standard, however individuals who have it report that it is a noticeable distinction. Google is rolling out the characteristic on a large scale, so for those who do not see it now, you must quickly.
The official help web page for “Hearken to this web page” would not have any details about the upgraded audio. I’ve reached out to Google to see if it will probably supply an official clarification or extra particulars concerning the characteristic.
