Google Chrome, known for its experimental Flags features, includes a Reading Mode that offers a clutter-free reading experience for articles. Google is now working on expanding this feature by introducing a text-to-speech functionality, allowing users to listen to articles instead of reading them. While the feature is currently being tested in Chrome Canary, the specific date of its release to the stable version remains unknown.
The new “read aloud” feature within Reading Mode will convert selected articles into audiobooks, making it possible for users to listen to the content. The play icon for this feature will be located at the center of the Reading Mode toolbar, with additional functions accessible through a gear icon.
A preview of the feature in action suggests it’s still a work in progress. When initiated, the browser will begin narrating the chosen article using a standard robotic voice, and users can pause the narration. However, specific segment-based narration is not yet supported.
This indicates that Google is in the early stages of testing and refining the feature before wider release. While Chrome is not the first browser to offer this functionality, its counterparts like Safari, Edge, and Mozilla Firefox have more polished narration capabilities, including options to customize the narration voice, speed, and navigation.
Users can enable this new feature through the Chrome flags page, though its availability varies. While it’s not present in the current Chrome Canary build (Version 118.0.5976.0), users who experience the feature are encouraged to share their feedback in the comments section.
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