Google is testing a new AI-powered feature, “Daily Listen,” designed to automatically generate short, personalized podcasts from the stories and topics in your Discover feed.

Aimed at helping users stay up to date on the topics they care about, the feature is currently rolling out on the Google app on Android and iOS.

To start, the “Daily Listen” AI feature will be available to U.S. users who have opted into the company’s Search Labs experiment.

Image Credits: Google (via 9to5Google)

Key Points:

1. Personalized Audio News: Daily Listen creates daily podcast episodes featuring audio overviews of the topics and stories you’re interested in (based on your Google history). 
2. Short and Engaging Format: Episodes are up to five minutes long and include clickable links to related stories for further reading.
3. Interactive Experience: The feature provides a rolling written transcript alongside the podcast, making it easier to follow along. 
4. Rooted in Discover: Topics you follow on Search and Discover in the Google app help you get a more personalized audio experience. 
5. Feature Accessibility: Users who have access to the feature will see a new “Daily Listen” section on their home screen in the Google app. A play button shows the podcast length, allowing easy entry into the audio experience. 

Key Quotes:

• Daily Listen is “a personalized AI-powered audio experience on the Google app on Android and iOS, where you can easily stay up to date on the topics you care about. If you’ve tried NotebookLM’s Audio Overviews, it’s kind of like getting a quick rundown of things to know, personalized for you!” – a Google spokesperson told Search Engine Land (source)
• “Daily Listen is rooted in Discover, so the topics you follow on Search and Discover in the Google app will help you get a more personalized experience,” Google told Search Engine Land (source)

Implications:

Google’s Daily Listen feature represents a growing trend in personalized AI-driven content delivery. Its focus on short-form audio content caters to busy users looking for quick, accessible news bites.

If successful, this innovation could change how users engage with news, setting a precedent for other tech companies to integrate personalized AI into their services.

Source: https://techcrunch.com/2025/01/09/googles-daily-listen-ai-feature-generates-a-podcast-based-on-your-discover-feed/