Google has introduced a host of new AI-driven accessibility features across Android and Chrome, all timed to coincide with Global Accessibility Awareness Day. The annual observance, held every third Thursday in May, champions digital inclusivity and Google’s latest move reinforces its commitment to making tech more accessible for everyone.
In a blog post, the Mountain View-based giant detailed its plans to personalise the digital experience for people with visual and hearing impairments. The company is not only enhancing Android’s capabilities but is also bringing two powerful new features to the Chrome browser. Plus, Google is equipping developers with improved resources to build smarter speech recognition tools.
Let’s start with Android, where the star of the show is Gemini, Google’s flagship AI model. Previously integrated into TalkBack, Android’s built-in screen reader, Gemini could generate alt text for images lacking descriptions. Now, it’s getting even more interactive. Users will be able to ask questions about the images and even about what’s on their screen, transforming passive image descriptions into active, helpful dialogues.
Also making headlines is Expressive Captions, a feature first launched in the US late last year. Think of it as an upgrade to traditional subtitles, it doesn’t just tell you what’s being said, but how it’s being said. Is someone screaming in rage? Whispering in suspense? Cheering in joy? Expressive Captions captures all that nuance.
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Instead of simply writing “no,” it might spell out a dramatic “noooooo” when it picks up heightened emotion, Darth Vader-style. Or a sports commentator might be captioned saying “amaaazing shot” during a thrilling cricket or football match. It’s smart, context-aware, and it’s now expanding to more English-speaking countries, including Australia, Canada, and the UK.. on devices running Android 15 and above.
Meanwhile, over on Chrome, users with low vision are in for some meaningful improvements. First, Google is introducing Optical Character Recognition (OCR) support for scanned PDFs on the desktop version of Chrome. That means scanned documents can now be read aloud by screen readers, or users can highlight, copy, and search through them, a big win for digital accessibility.
Then there’s Page Zoom for Chrome on Android. This feature allows users to increase text size without messing up the page layout, no more side-scrolling chaos, just to read an article. It’s a thoughtful touch aimed at those who prefer larger fonts for comfort and clarity. In short, Google’s latest updates aren’t just about smarter tech, they’re about kinder tech.