Google expands 'AI Audio Overviews' feature to Search: Here's how it works

Google is expanding its Audio Overviews feature – previously available in NotebookLM and the Gemini app – to Search through a new experiment in Google Labs. The tool turns complex written content into brief, conversational audio summaries, designed to make information more accessible. The AI-generated overviews go beyond user-inputted queries. Google supplements results with additional sources to create a more comprehensive summary and includes links to the original content for users to explore further. In a blog post announcing the update, Google said: 'We're launching a new Search experiment in Labs – Audio Overviews, which uses our latest Gemini models to generate quick, conversational audio overviews for certain search queries.' ALSO READ: iOS 26: Apple will let apps like Spotify access this new Music app featureHow Google's AI Audio Overviews work in SearchThe feature is currently live for select users in Google Labs, the company's platform for testing experimental tools. When available, users will see an option to generate an audio overview for certain search queries – particularly those where a summary may be helpful. Once initiated, a basic audio player launches with the following features:Play/pause, volume control, and playback speedSource links to view original content used in the overviewFeedback options with thumbs up/down to rate the summary or overall featureThis feature helps streamline search experiences by offering a podcast-like summary of complex topics, allowing users to consume information hands-free. ALSO READ: Neuralink device Blindsight helps monkey see something that's not there In related news, Google has started rolling out the Android 16 update to eligible Pixel smartphones. First previewed last month at its inaugural Android Show: I/O Edition, the update introduces several new features including live updates, the Pixel VIPs widget, deeper Gemini integration, and more. According to Google, Android 16 sets the stage for the broader adoption of its new Material 3 Expressive design language. However, most of the visual changes tied to this new design approach are not yet live in this release.

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Time of India

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Apple talking to AI startup Perplexity, claims report and why it pulled down Google shares

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Hans India

27 minutes ago

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Average speed of vehicle in city is 25 kmph: Hyd'bad police chief

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The Hindu

31 minutes ago

• The Hindu

Apple executives held internal talks about buying Perplexity: Report

Apple executives have held internal talks about potentially bidding for artificial intelligence startup Perplexity, Bloomberg News reported on Friday, citing people with knowledge of the matter. The discussions are at an early stage and may not lead to an offer, the report said, adding that the tech behemoth's executives have not discussed a bid with Perplexity's management. Apple and Perplexity did not immediately respond to Reuters' requests for comment. Big tech companies are doubling down investments to enhance AI capabilities and support growing demand for AI-powered services to maintain competitive leadership in the rapidly evolving tech landscape. Bloomberg News reported earlier on Friday that Meta Platforms tried to buy Perplexity earlier this year. Meta announced a $14.8 billion investment in Scale AI last week and hired Scale AI CEO Alexandr Wang to lead its new superintelligence unit. Adrian Perica, Apple's head of mergers and acquisitions, has weighed the idea with services chief Eddy Cue and top AI decision-makers, as per the report. The iPhone maker reportedly plans to integrate AI-driven search capabilities- such as Perplexity AI- into its Safari browser, potentially moving away from its longstanding partnership with Alphabet's Google. Banning Google from paying companies to be the default search engine is among the remedies that the U.S. Justice Department has proposed to break up its dominance in online search. While traditional search engines such as Google still dominate global market share, AI-powered search options including Perplexity and ChatGPT are rapidly gaining prominence this year and seeing rising user adoption, especially among younger generations. Perplexity recently completed a funding round that valued it at $14 billion, according to the Bloomberg News report on Friday. A deal close to that value would be the largest acquisition for Apple till date. The Nvidia-backed startup provides artificial intelligence search tools that deliver information summaries to users, similar to OpenAI's ChatGPT and Google's Gemini.