Google's Discover feed now accepts natural-language instructions to filter content
Google is rolling out new personalization features for its Discover feed, including a chat interface that lets users describe the content they want to see or avoid in plain language. The feed updates immediately based on the user's instructions. Additionally, Google introduced a Preferred Sources button for publishers and customizable daily audio briefings in the Google News app.
The chat-based customization arrives alongside two other publisher-facing updates. A new Preferred Sources button lets websites embed a follow option directly on their pages, allowing readers to add that publisher to their Discover feed without leaving the site. The Google News app is also gaining customizable daily audio briefings, which users can tailor by topic.
Previously, Discover users had only limited controls: marking content as "not interested," blocking specific publishers, or hearting articles to signal preference. The new natural-language interface represents a significant shift from these reactive controls to proactive, descriptive instructions. Google states the feature will roll out on the Google app in the coming days, with the feed adjusting immediately and retaining user requests.
This feature could meaningfully shift how users interact with algorithmic content feeds, giving individuals more direct agency over what they see rather than relying on opaque ranking signals. For publishers, the Preferred Sources button may alter traffic patterns, potentially benefiting outlets users actively choose while reducing exposure for algorithmically recommended content. Daily audio briefings could also change news consumption habits, particularly for commuters or multitaskers. However, the long-term effect depends on whether users engage with these controls or continue passively accepting algorithmic curation.