Alright, you know I’m always digging around for the latest in search tech, and this one caught my ear – literally. Google’s experimenting with something new in Search Labs: Audio AI Overviews. Yep, you heard that right. Instead of just reading a summarized answer, you can now listen to it. Matt Southern at Search Engine Journal (@MattGSouthern) broke down the news in their article, “Google Launches Audio AI Overviews In Search Labs Test,” and I had to share my thoughts.
Think about it: you’re multitasking, cooking dinner, or maybe your eyes are just tired of staring at a screen. Now, Google can read the AI overview to you. Pretty neat, huh?
This feature is currently a test running in the US through Search Labs. So, if you’re stateside, you can opt-in and give it a whirl.
Why is Google doing this? Well, voice search has been on the rise for years. Back in 2018, Google Assistant was already used on over 500 million devices (source: Google AI Blog). With the increasing popularity of smart speakers and voice assistants, it makes sense that Google would explore audio options within search.
I think this is about making information more accessible. It’s catering to how people are consuming content these days – on the go, while doing other things. It might be a plus for those with visual impairments, too.
Here are my 5 takeaways from this new test:
- Multitasking Maven: This is a big win for anyone who likes to learn while doing. Listen to search summaries while driving, working out, or cleaning the house.
- Accessibility Boost: Audio overviews could make search more accessible to users with visual impairments or reading difficulties.
- Voice Search Evolution: This signals a continued push towards voice-based interactions with Google. Expect more voice-first features in the future.
- Content Consumption Shifts: Google’s recognizing that people want to consume information in different ways. Audio is just another format.
- Early Days: Remember, this is just an experiment. Google will be watching how people use it and making adjustments.
This isn’t some magic bullet, but it is a cool development and worth keeping an eye on. It’s all about making information more readily available, and I’m here for it!
FAQ: Google’s Audio AI Overviews
- What are Audio AI Overviews? Audio AI Overviews are spoken summaries of search results generated by Google’s AI. Instead of reading a text overview, you can listen to it.
- Where is this feature available? Currently, the feature is only available in the US through Google Search Labs.
- How do I access Audio AI Overviews? You need to opt-in to Search Labs in the US and then look for the audio option when an AI overview is displayed.
- Is this available on all devices? It should be available on any device where you can access Google Search and Search Labs.
- What if I don’t like the audio? Can I turn it off? Yes, since it’s part of Search Labs, you can likely disable the feature if you don’t find it useful.
- Will this replace traditional search results? No, Audio AI Overviews are designed to supplement, not replace, traditional search results.
- What kind of searches will have audio overviews? Google will likely roll it out for a variety of informational searches where an AI overview is helpful.
- How accurate are the audio overviews? The accuracy will depend on the AI’s understanding of the search query. Expect it to improve as the technology evolves.
- Will this impact website traffic? It’s hard to say for sure. It could potentially reduce clicks to websites if users get the information they need from the audio overview. However, it could also lead to more informed clicks.
- When will this be available outside the US? There’s no official timeline yet. It will depend on the success of the initial testing phase in the US.