YouTube announced on Thursday 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 signals YouTube’s ongoing efforts to compete with other platforms for podcast audiences, especially as streaming giant Netflix is investing heavily in video podcasts. Additionally, by focusing on personalized discovery and hands-free listening features, the company also appears to be targeting users who consume podcasts on audio-first apps like Spotify and Apple Podcasts.
The Google-owned platform’s “Ask Music” feature already lets Premium users generate personalized radio stations and playlists, and now users will be able to get podcast recommendations based on genres, their current mood, or shows they already enjoy.
Users will also get 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 the hosts are speaking at different speeds or changing their tone. With this new feature, listeners will be able to listen to content at a 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 get access to quick controls like skipping forward or backward, or jumping to the next episode. YouTube says the 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.
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Aisha is a consumer news reporter at TechCrunch. Prior to joining the publication in 2021, she was a telecom reporter at MobileSyrup. Aisha holds an honours bachelor’s degree from University of Toronto and a master’s degree in journalism from Western University.
You can contact or verify outreach from Aisha by emailing aisha@techcrunch.com or via encrypted message at aisha_malik.01 on Signal.
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