Google have launched a new search experience with the introduction of Audio Overviews, a new feature that transforms search results into engaging, AI-generated audio summaries.
Part of Google’s AI overviews this new experiment is currently available in Google Labs, offers users a hands-free way to absorb information quickly and efficiently. What could Audio Overviews mean for users and publishers? Where could this lead to in the future with video content.
What are Google Audio Overviews?
Audio Overviews utilise Google’s latest Gemini models to create concise, conversational audio summaries of search results.
When users opt into this experiment and perform a search, they may see an option to generate a short audio overview on their query topic. This feature aims to provide a quick “lay of the land” for unfamiliar subjects, offering a convenient way to absorb information while multitasking or for those who prefer auditory learning.
Interestingly the audio file generated is in a podcast / conversational style where two people are answering the question. In the example below, the video has a male and female voice with an answer on how to improve your credit score.
Each example ends with “to learn more check out the list of sources below”
You’ll also notice that it takes 20 seconds to generate, a combination of the AI searching, then generating and creating the audio clip which is 3:56 seconds long.
Almost as a “sister” to AI overviews the Audio Overviews gather their information from a selection of sources which are shown below the audio player. But as many have commented, they don’t mention these sources explicitly within the audio.
Example script from “latest trends in NHS digital transformation 2025”
[audio src="https://weareroast.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/example.mp3" /]
Female: So, the NHS is going through a massive digital makeover, right? What are the main things we should be looking out for in 2025?
Male: Absolutely. We’re seeing big changes in AI, how patients are cared for, and making sure everyone has fair access to health care. And that’s just the start.
Female: AI seems to be everywhere. How will that actually play out in the NHS?
Male: Well, AI is helping to translate languages, making sure everyone understands their treatment. Also, it’s being used to spot problems early on and even help doctors make better decisions. But it needs to be managed properly so all practices, big and small, can use it effectively.
Female: That makes sense. What about getting all the different NHS systems to talk to each other? It’s always seemed like a challenge.
Male: You’re spot on. Getting systems to work together is super important. The focus is on making sure all the different parts of the NHS can share patient records easily. This way, doctors have all the info they need, no matter where you’ve been treated before.
Female: So no more repeating your medical history every time you see a new doctor?
Male: Exactly. And it also means that things like booking appointments and seeing test results can all be done through one app, like the NHS app.
Female:That would be a huge improvement. What about keeping all that data safe? Cyber attacks are a real worry.
Male: Data security is a top priority. The NHS is working hard to protect patient info from cyber threats. This means using the latest encryption and keeping a close eye on their systems to spot any problems early.
Female: It’s good to know they’re on it. What about people who aren’t so comfortable with tech? How does this help them?
Male: That’s a really important point. The NHS is trying to make sure that everyone, no matter how good they are with tech, can still get the care they need. This means things like making sure websites and apps are easy to use, and still offering support in person or over the phone if that’s what people prefer.
Female: So it’s not just about the tech, but also about making sure it works for everyone.
Male: Exactly. And it’s about using tech to free up staff time so they can spend more time with patients. Things like remote monitoring, where patients can check their health from home, can really help take the pressure off hospitals.
Female: That sounds like a win-win. What about the costs? Is all this digital stuff expensive?
Male: It can be. But the idea is that by using tech smartly, the NHS can actually save money in the long run. Things like cutting down on paperwork, making processes more efficient, and preventing problems before they become serious can all add up to big savings.
Female: So it’s an investment in the future?
Male: Precisely. And it’s not just about money. It’s about making the NHS more sustainable too. Digital solutions can help reduce the NHS’s carbon footprint, like cutting down on travel for appointments.
Female: I see. So what are the biggest challenges in making all this happen?
Male: One of the biggest is getting everyone on board. It’s not just about having the right tech, but also about making sure staff have the skills and training they need to use it properly. There’s also the challenge of making sure all the different systems can work together and that data is shared safely and securely.
Female:So it’s a team effort?
Male: Absolutely. It needs everyone, from healthcare professionals to tech experts to policymakers, all working together to make it a success.
Female: Alright, so it sounds like the NHS is really trying to embrace digital tech to improve health care for everyone. What do you think is the one thing that would make the biggest difference in 2025?
Male: If I had to pick one thing, it would be making sure that everyone has equal access to these digital tools. If we can close that digital divide and make sure that everyone can benefit from these advancements, that would be a game changer.
Female: I agree. It’s about making sure no one gets left behind. Thanks for breaking it all down for us.
Male: My pleasure. It’s an exciting time for the NHS, and I’m looking forward to seeing how these changes play out.
Female: To learn more, check out the listed sources below.
Audio Overview Test Results
As with any new feature on Google best thing is to test, try different key phrases, see what variances there is in the new feature. We conducted a small test, here are some findings.
- On 21 random searches, audio overviews appears 10 times.
- An Audio Overview can appear on its own or with an existing AI Overview
- Most often it shows 10 resource and links, but there are examples of 8 and 9
- They appear sometime below P1, sometimes further down
- On average Google take about 20 seconds to generate
- Average lengh of the audio fle was 269.9 seconds (4 mins, 29 seconds)
- You can’t download the MP3, via source you can only see the first 13 second chunk
Benefits for Users: Accessibility and Convenience
The introduction of Audio Overviews brings several advantages to users:
- Enhanced accessibility for visually impaired users
- Hands-free information consumption for multitaskers
- Quick overview of complex topics
- Personalised learning experience for auditory learners
ChatGPT has long had the ability to have answers read out to users, once generated.
This feature could be particularly beneficial for students, professionals on-the-go, or anyone looking to quickly grasp the essence of a topic without extensive reading.
Tracking Audio Overviews
If audio overviews launch for real in the future we would look to track with the following methodology.
- Does the Audio Overview appear (True/False)
- If so what rank position (P1 to P10)
- URLS in the sources (URL list)
- Transcription (written text)
- Brand mention (extracted from the transcription)
- Length of audio
Potential Impact on Click-Through Rates
While Audio Overviews offer benefits for some users, there’s a potential concern for website owners and content creators. By providing comprehensive summaries, directly in search results, users might feel less inclined to click through to individual websites. This could lead to a decrease in click-through rates (CTR) for organic search results.
The decrease in CTR has already been noted with AI overviews, however with Audio, there is much more likely the user will put their device down and listen, or on a desktop click to another tab / application and less likely to click to a source.
Why Audio Overviews Make Sense for Google
Google’s venture into Audio Overviews is a natural progression of their existing technologies. The company has already developed advanced text-to-speech capabilities, evident in products like Google Assistant and Google Translate. By leveraging their Gemini AI models, Google can now offer more nuanced and context-aware audio summaries.
Future Possibilities: Video Overviews?
The introduction of Audio Overviews opens up exciting possibilities for the future of search. One potential evolution could be the development of Video Overviews, where AI generates short video summaries of search results. This could incorporate relevant images, animations, clips from YouTube and even AI-generated visuals to provide a more comprehensive and engaging overview of topics. We know that Google has the technology with VEO 3 from Deepmind, a Google company being one of the leading models for video generation.
However, it would also raise new challenges in terms of content creation, copyright issues, and the potential for misinformation.
Who Can Access Audio Overviews?
Currently, Audio Overviews are available as an experiment in Google Labs. The feature is limited to:
- Users in the United States
- Searches conducted in English
As with previous experiments, Google may then release to the public after this testing period.
How to Sign Up for Audio Overviews
If you’re interested in trying out Audio Overviews, follow these steps:
- Visit the Google Labs page for the Audio Overviews experiment – https://labs.google.com/search/experiment/30
- Opt into the experiment
- Perform a search on Google
- If available for your query, you’ll see an option to generate an audio overview
Users can provide feedback on individual overviews and the experiment as a whole through thumbs up/down options in the interface.
As we at ROAST continue to monitor and analyse the impact of innovations, like Google Audio Overviews, we’re excited about the potential of new ways to optimise content and improve user experience, but at the same time understand the possible impacts on clients existing performance. For more information on how these changes might affect your SEO strategy, check out our AI Overviews Ranking Reports.
