Google Docs Rolls Out Audio Summaries

Google Docs has begun rolling out audio summaries, following the introduction of text-to-speech in August. This new capability offers users an efficient way to digest document content through concise verbal synopses.

How to Access

Users can access the feature on the web by navigating to Tools > Audio. Within this menu, "Listen to this tab" is now accompanied by the new option, "Listen to document summary."

Audio Player Features and Voice Options

Activating the feature brings up an audio player, complete with a timeline scrubber for navigation and playback speed controls, ranging from 0.5x to 2x. Users also have the flexibility to select from various voices, such as narrator, persuader, or coach, to personalize their listening experience.

Gemini Powers Concise Document Reviews

These summaries are powered by Gemini and are designed to offer a concise verbal synopsis of a document's content, potentially spanning multiple tabs.

They are generally brief, often under a few minutes, and utilize a natural speaking style to facilitate quick content review.

Potential applications include reviewing notes before meetings or summarizing extensive reports to quickly grasp key information.

Rollout and Availability

The audio summaries feature in the Google Docs web app is being rolled out over the next few weeks and is available to specific subscriber tiers:

• 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