Google Go Can Now Read Websites Out Loud

Google has updated its Google Go app so that it can now read web pages out loud. Including this one. The new feature means it’s possible to have any website read out to you aloud at the touch of a button. And all without using a ton of resources.

Google launched Google Go in 2017 as part of a suite of new apps designed for emerging markets. The thinking is that Google has reached a peak in places such as the U.S. and Europe, and so it’s now starting to cater to “the next billion users“.

Google Go Wants to Read the Internet

Google Go is a lightweight search app which is small in size and kind to those on limited data plans. Go debuted in India and Indonesia, two countries where the number of internet users is growing at a rather impressive rate of knots.

The new feature means Go can read web pages out loud. According to The Keyword, this is powered by “natural language processing and speech synthesis AI”. Which allows Google Go to read web pages aloud in a natural voice using minimal data.

Google Go can read web pages out loud in 28 different languages, including the most commonly used languages in India. And as Google Go highlights each word as it’s spoken, this feature could be a useful tool for anyone trying to learn a new language.

Google says this technology makes “consuming long-form text becomes as easy as watching TV or listening to the radio”. It also suggests it will be useful when multitasking, “like following a recipe while cooking a meal” or “listening to articles while exercising”.

Coming to More Google Products Soon

Google Go is only available in a handful of countries. However, there is hope for those of us who aren’t yet able to access this feature, with Google stating, “In the future, we’d like to bring the ability to listen to web pages to more Google products.”

Even if you can’t download Google Go yet due to geographical restrictions, there are other ways of having things read to you. Microsoft Word can read documents aloud, Siri can read tweets aloud, and Alexa can read recipes aloud.

Image Credit: Iain Farrell/Flickr

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