Google Docs adds Gemini Audio Summaries to transform long documents into quick podcast-like clips

No Time to Read a Long Google Doc? Try Gemini's Quick AI Audio Summaries

Overwhelmed by long documents that you don't want to read? Google thinks it can help with short, podcast-like summaries. Audio summaries provide a brief overview of any Google Docs file you upload. Last summer, Google introduced a tool that uses Gemini to read an entire document aloud, but this new feature produces a summary that should come in at under three minutes. "Audio summaries provide a short verbal synopsis of the contents in your document, including multiple tabs," Google says. "These summaries are typically under a few minutes long, and use a natural speaking style to help you catch up quickly and efficiently." This probably won't be helpful for important files where you need to ensure you've understood everything, but if you need a quick rundown of the highlights, Gemini's tool may be helpful. The feature is only available to those who pay for Google AI Pro or Ultra, as well as to those on Business Standard or Plus, Enterprise Standard or Plus, or who have a business or education Google AI add-on. It's rolling out now and should be available for eligible users by month's end. To find the feature, head to Tools > Audio > Listen to document summary. It'll make a small play bar appear within Google Docs, allowing you to toggle controls and scrub through the audio summary. You can pause, increase the speed, and return to an earlier part of the clip. Google says you can also personalize the experience by choosing a different voice for the audio summary.

Google Docs gets a big Gemini boost focused on accessibility

Rahul Naskar has years of experience writing news and features related to Android, phones, and apps. Outside the tech world, he follows global events and developments shaping the world of geopolitics. It's been almost a couple of years since Gemini made its debut in Google Docs, and in many ways, the AI tool has changed how we interact with the Workspace app. Gemini has also become more powerful in Google Docs and other Workspace apps over time, allowing users to be more productive. After introducing a major Gemini update for Google Docs in October last year, Google has now come up with another exciting Gemini update for its word processor. And this time around, it aims to improve accessibility in Google Docs by allowing users to quickly 'understand the most important parts of the content.' Gemini in Google Docs gets better at summarizing content In its Workspace updates blog post, Google has announced support for Gemini-powered Audio summaries in Google Docs. This will be handy in situations where you need to listen to a quick summary of a long document. But this isn't only about providing you with the key points in a long document in an audio format. The new Gemini-powered tool also includes the option to personalize the audio experience. For example, you can select different voices like narrator, persuader, coach, and more. You'll also be able to choose a playback speed that suits you best, with support for speeds up to 2x. It also shows a seek bar, allowing you to skip ahead to a specific part of the summary and go back to replay something that you may have missed. It's also easy to access the new Audio summary tool in Google Docs. All you have to do is click the Tools option, select Audio, and click Listen to document summary. There is no admin control for this feature, nor do end users need to enable anything in settings to use the Audio summary capability. However, the new Gemini feature won't be available to everyone. Google has confirmed that the Audio Summary feature will be available for Workspace customers of the following plans: Business Standard and Plus Enterprise Standard and Plus Google AI Ultra for Business add-on Google AI Pro for Education add-on Google AI Pro and Ultra However, even if you are subscribed to any of the above plans, don't be surprised if you don't see the Audio summary feature right now. While the rollout started on February 12, Google may take longer than 15 days to become available for everyone. So, if you don't see the Gemini tool on Google Docs, wait a few more days.

Google Adds Gemini-Powered Audio Summaries to Google Docs

Google Workspace users can also listen to the summary at varying speeds Google released a new artificial intelligence (AI) feature for Google Docs on Thursday. Powered by Gemini, the feature is dubbed Audio Summaries, and it lets users listen to a short audio summary of documents. The release is part of Google Workspace updates, although it is also available to select individual accounts. The Mountain View-based tech giant is releasing the capability only to paid subscribers at this time. Unlike normal text-to-speech features, Audio Summaries' narration occurs in a human-like natural language. Audio Summaries Come to Google Docs In a Workspace blog, the tech giant announced and detailed the new AI feature for Google Docs. The company has already integrated Gemini features across all Workspace apps, but it continues to add new capabilities and tools to help save time. The core offering of Audio Summaries is that it can not only create a short synopsis of a long document or report, but it also turns it into a human-like audio that users can listen to while they do something else on the side. The feature appears to be inspired by Audio Overviews, which first made its debut in NotebookLM and was later released in the Gemini app. Google describes it as "a short verbal synopsis of the contents in your document, including multiple tabs. These summaries are typically under a few minutes long and use a natural speaking style to help you catch up quickly and efficiently." There are some user controls as well. Users can select from multiple voices, such as narrator, persuader, coach, and more. Additionally, they have the option to adjust playback speed or use the seeker to skip forward or backwards. While Google does not mention it, the generated summaries are expected to be grounded in the content of the document and not add any information from external sources. For organisations, the company highlights that there are no admin controls for Audio Summaries. Coming to availability, Google said the feature is being rolled out to its Business Standard and Plus, Enterprise Standard and Plus, Google AI Ultra for Business add-on, Google AI Pro for Education add-on, as well as Google AI Pro and Ultra subscribers.