YouTube is rolling out new podcast features for Premium subscribers, including an AI-powered recommendation tool that suggests shows based on genre, mood, or listening history. A new 'Auto speed' feature intelligently adjusts playback speed during slower or denser speech segments. An on-the-go listening mode provides quick controls for background playback during activities like running or commuting. Auto speed and on-the-go mode are currently available on Android, with iOS support coming later. YouTube reports over 800 million hours of podcast watching in April 2026 and 1 billion monthly active podcast users, signaling its push to compete with Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and Netflix in the podcast space.
35 Impressions