Google Sends Assistant’s ‘Your News Update’ to the Graveyard

In case you had been keen on “Your News Update,” the characteristic on Google Assistant that created a personalised audio information stream primarily based on the info the corporate has on you, it’s time to bid it adieu. Google unexpectedly killed it in current days, so it’s no extra.

The firm launched Your News Update in 2019 as an algorithmic audio feed designed to supply every person with brief information updates. Google’s updates had been just like these from NPR, which delivers the hour’s prime headlines in just some minutes. To create your customized information feed, Google tapped into all the data it had on you—comparable to your pursuits, location, person historical past, and preferences—and chosen topic-specific tales it had licensed from its companions. As the replace went on, Google would introduce longer-form content material.

The loss of life of Your News Update was reported in current days by 9to5Google. The outlet reported that the characteristic’s customers acquired a message saying it was not out there. It was additionally yanked from Google Podcasts’ Explore tab. The firm later confirmed the information to the outlet.

“We’re streamlining our audio news products to improve users’ experience,” a Google spokesperson mentioned. “People will still be able to get audio briefings through News Briefings on Google Assistant.”

As Google factors out above, this doesn’t imply you can’t take heed to information on Google Assistant anymore. It simply means the corporate isn’t going to undergo the difficulty of attempting to create a playlist with information you want. Instead, it’ll depart it as much as you.

With the News Briefings characteristic, customers can choose to listen to information from particular sources—together with NPR, Reuters, Fox News, or the Today Show, to call a number of—in a selected order. News Briefings isn’t new. It was round earlier than Your News Update and apparently outlived it. Given Google’s monitor document of killing products, solely time will inform how lengthy News Briefings will likely be round.

Enjoy it whilst you can.