Siri gets option to share audio news from podcasts

Apple’s Siri voice assistant is getting a closer relationship with podcasts. When asking Siri for news, the platform can provide audio-based news updates from the Podcasts app. In the U.S., Siri defaults to audio updates from NPR, but a second voice command can change the default to The Washington Post, CNN, or Fox News. In the UK, Siri offers BBC, Sky News, or LBC. Other markets will default to their own local news podcasts.

Mac Rumors posits that this development was designed for the instances where a user wouldn’t or couldn’t look at the screen, such as Apple CarPlay or the upcoming HomePod smart speaker. Activating Siri with the side or home buttons on a mobile device returns the typical text-based results. The audio option is given when using the “Hey Siri” voice command, when using CarPlay, and when using headphones.