Google announced during CES 2020 on Tuesday (7th Jan 2020) that Google Assistant will soon be able to read websites back to you.

This could offer easier access to information for people who are visually impaired. If the website is in a foreign language, it’ll translate the text before reading it back to you. All you’ll have to do is load up a site on an Android phone and then say “Hey Google, read it” or “Hey Google, read this page.” Then, Google Assistant will read it back to you.

• You’ll just have to open a website within the Chrome on an Android phone and then say “Hey Google, read it” or “Hey Google, read this page.”
• The feature will be limited to Android phones only when it launches later this year. Sorry iPhone users!

Google says it’s working to “include auto-scroll and text highlighting capabilities” so that you can follow along with the text as it reads to you.

With the increase in smart speakers and voice search predicted to go beyond 50% of all online searches in 2020 having a well-structured SEO optimised website is even more important.