Transcriptions now available for voice messages in Google Chat

22/11/2024

Table of contents

What’s changing

Earlier this year, Google introduced the ability to send voice messages in Google Chat to help users save time, convey more information, and emphasize the most important information for the message receiver. To build upon this highly requested communication feature and increase accessibility in Chat, they are excited to announce voice messages transcription.

Starting today, users will be able to see an automatic transcription of voice messages in Chat on web and mobile. This update enables content consumption in a user’s preferred format or the format that is most convenient at that particular moment.

Getting started

Admins
- This feature will be ON by default and can be disabled at the domain or OU level by disabling all attachments. Visit the Help Center to learn more about controlling file sharing in Chat.
- For purposes of Google Vault, Google Takeout, and Security Investigation Tool (SIT) moderation tools, voice messages are treated as attachments (like any other message in Chat).
End users
- You can send voice messages on mobile (to direct messages, group chats and spaces) and receive them on all platforms, including web. However, you cannot send voice messages on web at this time.
- To review the voice messages transcription, click “View transcript” underneath the voice message. You can close the voice transcription by clicking “Hide transcript”.
- For screen reader users, voice transcripts are treated as readable texts. Visit the Help Center to learn more about using Google Chat with a screen reader.
- Transcription will adhere to your Google Account’s language settings.
- Visit the Help Center to learn more about sending a voice message in Google Chat.