As Google celebrates its 25th anniversary, the tech giant has announced a significant change in its product lineup. Google Podcasts, one of the company’s ventures into the world of podcasting, is set to meet its demise next year. This decision places Google Podcasts among a long list of Google products that have been discontinued over the years, raising questions about the company’s product strategy and evolution.
It’s remarkable that even after a quarter-century of existence, Google’s core identity remains rooted in its search capabilities. While the company has ventured into various domains and industries, many of its successful products continue to revolve around search. In a landscape of ever-evolving technology and innovation, one might have expected Google to diversify its offerings further. However, the company’s focus on search-driven products seems unwavering.
In the world of artificial intelligence, Google’s efforts with Google BARD have been noted, but they face stiff competition from the likes of OpenAI’s ChatGPT. OpenAI’s ChatGPT, in fact, is the technology behind the very article you are reading, showcasing the progress made in AI language models.
For users of Google Podcasts, the discontinuation may come as a surprise, but Google has provided a transition plan. Subscribers will have the option to move their podcast subscriptions from Google Podcasts to YouTube Music. However, it’s important to note that this transition won’t be seamless for everyone. In countries like Kenya, where YouTube Premium or YouTube Music may not be available, accessing podcasts on YouTube Music may be a challenge unless these services are expanded to such regions.
This move follows a trend of Google discontinuing various services and apps. Recent casualties include Google Domains, Google Optimise, YouTube Stories, Google Stadia, Hangouts, and many others. A website called “killedbygoogle.com” documents the growing graveyard of Google products, shedding light on the company’s shifting priorities and evolving product portfolio.
Google provided an official statement regarding the discontinuation of Google Podcasts:
Recently we announced that Google Podcasts will be discontinued next year. We wanted to reach out directly with more information on what to expect.
For now, nothing is changing, and you can continue to use Google Podcasts as normal. Over the coming months, podcasts in YouTube Music will be made available globally, and we will start rolling out tools that will enable you to transfer your podcast show subscriptions from Google Podcasts. In YouTube Music, you will be able to listen to your podcasts just like you did on Google Podcasts, no paid subscription required. If YouTube Music isn’t for you, there will also be an option to download a file of your show subscriptions, which you can upload to an app that supports their import.
We acknowledge that this is a big change and want to thank you for being a loyal Google Podcasts user. We’ll reach out directly with more details over the coming months. In the meantime, if you have questions, please check out our Help Community here.
Sincerely,
The Google Podcasts team
As Google continues to evolve and adapt to the ever-changing tech landscape, the discontinuation of Google Podcasts serves as a reminder that even giants in the industry must make tough decisions to align with their evolving strategies. Users will now need to prepare for the transition to YouTube Music or explore alternative podcasting platforms as Google bids farewell to yet another product in its extensive portfolio.
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