Google may be testing a new feature in search for its featured snippets and knowledge panels to read the content of that snippet to you. Manikandan shared a screenshot with me on Twitter of Google Search showing a button that reads "hear this out loud" in the featured snippet box in Google Search.
Here is that screenshot (click to enlarge):
I tried to replicate this but was unsuccessful.
Google has this technology, it is part of its accessibility features on ChromeBooks and other areas. So it wouldn't be hard for Google to add this to Google Search. Or maybe this is an example of that feature on Chrome showing up and nothing to do with Google Search directly? I am honestly not sure.
But no, this is not speakable markup.
I think India first. pic.twitter.com/c4Wt6kbUxh
— Rob P (@MrRobzilla) May 26, 2021
Forum discussion at Twitter.
Here is a video of it in action:
Here is the video recording. :) pic.twitter.com/CnY5GlBZNz
— Praveen Sharma (@MusingPraveen) June 1, 2021
Update: More examples:
2/2
— Saad AK (@SaadAlikhan1994) May 24, 2022
If a content is in english, you can also see your regional language specific audio button too, and when you click it, google will translate the content in that specific language and will read the content to you (I experienced this).
Sending to: @rustybrick SIR. pic.twitter.com/TdJsWiTjKP
