Spotify is adding auto-generated transcripts to millions of podcasts

Spotify is rolling out auto-generated podcast transcripts to more creators in the coming weeks, the company announced Thursday.

The text transcripts will also be time-synced so listeners can visually follow along as a podcast episode progresses. Transcripts are available by scrolling down below the podcast player and tapping into a “read along” section. A transcription of a show makes the podcast more accessible to users and allows listeners to skip around and skim an episode without listening through.

Spotify says “millions” of podcast episodes will get the tool, and in the future, creators could add media to transcripts — a useful feature if a creator is describing an image on the show, for example.

Beyond transcripts, mobile podcast listeners globally will now be able to jump around an episode using chapters as well. Podcasters can add time-stamped chapters to their shows that briefly describe a segment of the show, allowing listeners to preview topics or start listening at specific points.

The auto-transcription feature follows the recent addition of an AI-generated voice cloning tool that translates podcasts into different languages. Announced earlier this week, the tool uses OpenAI’s Whisper technology to create versions of podcast episodes in other languages. The feature is limited to a handful of creators to translate English-language podcasts into Spanish, with French and German translations coming in the next few weeks.