YouTube introduces AI podcast recommendations, Auto speed playback, and on-the-go listening mode for Premium users

YouTube announced new podcast features for Premium members: an AI-powered recommendation tool based on genres and mood, an "Auto speed" feature that intelligently adjusts playback speed during slower speech, and an on-the-go listening mode with quick controls for running, commuting, or multitasking.

Auto speed and on-the-go mode are now available on Android; both are coming to iOS in the coming months. The recommendation tool builds on YouTube's existing "Ask Music" feature.

YouTube Premium users watched over 800 million hours of podcasts in April 2026, and YouTube Podcasts has over 1 billion monthly active users. The company is using these new features to retain and grow these numbers.