YouTube was announced Thursday is introducing new podcast features for Premium users, including an AI-powered recommendation tool, an “Auto Speed” setting and a new listen-on-the-go feature.
The update marks YouTube’s continued efforts to compete with other platforms for podcast audiences, especially as streaming giant Netflix invests heavily in video podcasts. In addition to focusing on personalized discovery and hands-free listening features, the company also appears to be targeting users who consume podcasts on audio-derived apps such as Spotify and Apple Podcasts.
The Google-owned platform’s Ask Music feature already allows Premium users to create personalized radio stations and playlists, and now users will be able to receive podcast recommendations based on genres, their current mood, or shows they’re already enjoying.
Users will also have access to a new Auto Speed feature designed to make listening more efficient by intelligently adjusting playback speed during slower speech or information-dense segments, creating a more streamlined experience without sacrificing comprehension.
While you can already adjust your playback speed, it can be inconsistent if hosts speak at different speeds or change their pitch. With this new feature, listeners will be able to hear content at speed that addresses these changes throughout the conversation.
The new on-the-go mode gives Premium users access to listener-friendly controls designed for activities like running, commuting or multitasking. Users will have access to quick controls such as going forward or backward or going to the next episode. YouTube says the feature is designed to make it easier to take full advantage of background playback.
Auto speed and on-the-go mode are now available for Premium users on Android and will be coming to iOS in the coming months.
YouTube says that Premium users watched over 800 million hours of podcasts in April 2026 and that YouTube Podcast has over 1 billion monthly active users. With these new features, the company is looking to maintain and grow these numbers.
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