Google’s Gemini app introduces Audio Overviews, giving Android and iOS users a new way to consume information through AI-generated podcasts. This feature, which was announced earlier this week, is now becoming available on mobile devices, enhancing the way users interact with documents and research materials.
Audio Overviews, which have already launched on the web for both free and paid Gemini Advanced subscribers in English, will soon expand to support additional languages. The feature allows users to generate AI-driven summaries of uploaded content, creating a conversational podcast between two virtual hosts.
How Audio Overviews Work on Mobile
With the latest update, Android and iOS users will notice a “Generate Audio Overview” suggestion chip when uploading a document or slideshow. This feature appears alongside the “Talk Live About This” option, which is still in the process of being fully rolled out for Android devices. Additionally, users can access Audio Overviews from the Deep Research reports overflow menu, where they can generate a podcast-style discussion of the uploaded content.
After selecting the option, it takes a few minutes for the AI to create the conversation. Once ready, Google will send a notification alerting users that their Audio Overview is available. Users can then access these summaries through the Chats history section in the top-left corner of the Gemini app’s home screen. This marks an improvement over previous versions, where past Audio Overviews were not accessible in history on mobile.
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The lack of a Built-in Audio Player Raises Questions
One surprising aspect of this rollout is that the Gemini app lacks a built-in audio player. Unlike the web version of Gemini, which features an inline player for Audio Overviews, the mobile app directs users to open the .m4a file in an external browser tab. This means playback relies on the default media player of the user’s operating system, such as Chrome for Android or Safari for iOS. While this setup does allow for easy downloads, some users may find it inconvenient compared to an integrated player.
What to Expect from Gemini’s AI-Generated Podcasts
The Gemini Audio Overviews generated by Gemini aim to summarize content, establish connections between topics, and provide engaging discussions with unique insights. These AI-driven conversations mimic a dynamic back-and-forth between two virtual hosts, making the experience feel like a professionally crafted podcast.
However, it’s important to note that file-based Audio Overviews are strictly based on the provided document or slideshow. They do not incorporate real-world knowledge or external sources, making them different from Gemini’s Deep Research-derived podcasts, which can pull from broader datasets.
Expanding AI-Powered Content Summarization
Google’s push for AI-powered content summarization continues to grow, with Audio Overviews serving as a new way to process large amounts of information efficiently. Whether for students, researchers, or professionals, this feature enhances accessibility by transforming text-heavy documents into easy-to-consume audio summaries.
With future updates, users may see further enhancements, including language support expansion, better playback integration, and improved conversational depth in AI-generated discussions. While the absence of a built-in audio player raises usability concerns, this new feature marks another step in making AI-generated insights more engaging and accessible.
For those eager to try out Gemini’s Audio Overviews, the feature is now available to all paid users in the U.S., with a broader rollout expected soon. Users can enable it through their Gemini app settings and start exploring AI-powered podcast summaries today.