Google Go Now Capable Of Reading Entire Webpages Out Loud

Google has announced that its lightweight search app, Google Go, is now capable of text-to-speech reading of websites. The new tool is intended to make the web more accessible to users in emerging markets and developing countries.

“Today, we’re launching a new feature which will let everyone using Google Go’s browser listen to webpages out loud. Powered by natural language processing and speech synthesis AI, this technology can read aloud billions of webpages in 28 languages smoothly, and in a natural sounding voice, even on 2G connections,” Google explained in a blog post. “It also uses minimal cellular data. This technology relies on AI to determine which parts of a page to read, and which to leave out, so you only listen to what is important.”

Google Go users who want to try out the new tool can easily use it with a push of a button. When users search for something on the Google Go app and tap on an article, a play button should be present at the bottom of the page. Google Go will start reading the article out loud when users press that play button.

The new Google Go feature will allow users to easily consume written content while doing something else, as pointed out by Engadget. It will most certainly be useful to people who may have visual or reading impairments. When Google Go reads a webpage out loud, the app will also highlight each word that’s being read. This should also be useful to people trying to learn another language.

“Using this technology, consuming long-form text becomes as easy as watching TV or listening to the radio. It’s also helpful for multitasking, like following a recipe while cooking a meal, listening to articles while exercising, or catching up on news on your commute,” Google said.

“People using Google Go come from many different backgrounds, and some might want extra tools to help read and pronounce new words—for example those with visual or reading impairments, people studying a foreign language, or those less comfortable reading long text. Today’s update makes it easier for anyone to access the richness of the web.”

Unfortunately, the new feature is only available on the Google Go app and not on the regular Google app. Google Go was launched last year and was first made available on Android Go Edition smartphones, which feature minimal specs and cost as little as $30. Google said that it plans to bring the new reading feature to its other products in the future.