YouTube Enhances Podcast Experience with AI-Powered Recommendations and Hands-Free Listening

The latest update signals YouTube's efforts to compete with other platforms for podcast audiences, with a focus on personalized discovery and hands-free listening features.

YouTube announced on Thursday that it's introducing new podcast features for Premium users, including an AI-powered recommendation tool, an 'Auto speed' setting, and a new on-the-go listening mode. The update is a significant step in the company's ongoing efforts to compete with other platforms for podcast audiences, especially as streaming giant Netflix is investing heavily in video podcasts.

The AI recommendation tool, similar to the existing 'Ask Music' feature, will provide users with personalized podcast recommendations based on genres, their current mood, or shows they already enjoy. This feature is designed to help users discover new podcasts and increase engagement within the platform.

The new 'Auto speed' feature is designed to make listening more efficient by intelligently adjusting playback speed during slower speech or information-dense segments. This feature addresses the inconsistency of adjusting playback speed manually, which can lead to a lack of comprehension due to varying speech speeds or tone changes.

Additionally, the new on-the-go mode gives Premium users access to listener-friendly controls designed for activities like running, commuting, or multitasking. Users will get access to quick controls like skipping forward or backward, or jumping to the next episode. This feature is designed to make it easier to get the most out of background playback.

Auto speed and on-the-go mode are now available for Premium users on Android and are coming to iOS in the coming months. YouTube says Premium users watched over 800 million hours of podcasts in April 2026, and that YouTube Podcasts has over 1 billion monthly active users. With these new features, the company is looking to both retain and grow these numbers.

• The new features are available for Premium users on Android and will be coming to iOS in the coming months.
• The AI recommendation tool is designed to help users discover new podcasts and increase engagement within the platform.