Google lets you pick stories for your feed

Google is introducing a new feature to its Discovery feed that allows users to instruct the AI on which stories they want to see. This functionality, announced on Friday, will enable users to “tune” and “tailor” their feed by simply telling Google what news they want to view, and what they do not.

Users can access the new option through the Google app by tapping any three-dot menu in the feed. A new window will appear with sample prompts and a text field to enter them.

How it Works

According to Google, users can enter a query like “show me kitchen renovation tips and ideas” and the AI, Gemini, will show a list of the types of stories it thinks the user will want to see. If the user is happy with the results, they can hit “Refresh your feed” to update their feed.

If the user isn’t happy with the results, they can refine their query by sending another prompt, such as “can you focus on eco-friendly and sustainable upgrades?” and see how Gemini responds. This process can be repeated until the user is happy with the direction Gemini is taking.

Other Changes to the Google App

In addition to the natural language feature, Google also announced two other changes to its app. The first change makes it easier to customize audio briefings in Google News on Android. Users will now be able to choose specific topics they want to hear, including between main topics and subtopics.

For example, a user could choose to hear science and technology news, but only about neuroscience and space, not environment, gaming, or virtual reality. The second change is the rollout of a new “Preferred Sources” button for publishers to use. This button allows users to tell Google that they want to see more articles from a particular publisher for topics going forward.

The “Preferred Sources” button is not a new feature, but rather an update to an existing one. It is unclear what specific changes have been made to the button, but it is intended to give users more control over the content they see in their feed.

Rollout of the New Features

Google says that these updates will roll out “in the coming days.” The exact timeline for the rollout is not specified, but it is expected to be available to all users soon.

By allowing users to tell the AI what stories they want to see, Google is giving users more control over their feed and providing a more tailored experience. This is a significant change to the Google app and is likely to be popular with users who want to see more relevant content.

In a similar vein, other tech companies have also been exploring the use of natural language processing to improve user experience. For instance, some companies have been using AI to generate personalized recommendations for users. Google’s new feature is another example of how AI can be used to enhance the user experience.

The new feature is expected to be available on both Android and iOS devices, although the exact rollout schedule is not specified. As with any new feature, there may be some bugs or issues that need to be worked out, but overall, the new feature is a positive development for users who want more control over their feed.