AI-based recommendations and more background playback options are on the way to YouTube.
YouTube is adding some features for Premium members that it says will be especially useful for podcast fans. An auto speed option is now available on Android and will be coming to iOS soon. YouTube said this “intelligently adjusts playback speed during relevant moments, like slower speech or information-rich segments” in podcasts and other types of videos.
Some other podcast apps have long offered similar features. For example, in Overcast (the podcast app I use), the smart speed adjustment aims to shorten silences, which is very handy.
Premium and YouTube Music Premium subscribers in select countries also have access to an AI-powered podcast recommendation tool. The YouTube Music app’s Ask Music feature, which helps generate a personalized radio station or playlist, now supports podcast recommendations that can be based on your mood, a certain genre, or shows you already enjoy.
Additionally, Premium users on Android have access to an on-the-go mode. According to YouTube, this gives users easier access to controls for listening to videos playing in the background, such as the ability to skip forward and forward. This feature will arrive on iOS in the coming months.
For some people, these updates could alleviate some of the YouTube Premium price hike that goes into effect in the US in June.
