Particle, an AI news application developed by former Twitter engineers, now tracks news not only from the web but also from podcasts. Shortly before its recent Android launch, the app introduced Podcast Clips, a feature that identifies the most compelling and pertinent segments across a wide range of podcasts. These clips are then integrated directly into the app’s news feed alongside related stories.

This allows users to play a brief clip while reading the news, rather than having to listen to an entire podcast episode just to hear a 45-second comment. Alternatively, users can read a transcript of the clip, with words highlighted in sync with the audio. “It’s a really cool way, when you’re reading a story or learning about a story, to get a breath of what are people saying about this. What’s the commentary.”

This move reflects a broader shift in how news is consumed and shared. Podcasts have grown into a major source of news for many people, often seen as trustworthy, and have become a platform for breaking news and announcements from public figures. As Bloomberg reported in 2024, tech CEOs in particular are increasingly turning to podcast hosts to share their views, bypassing traditional media outlets. Staying informed now means paying closer attention to podcasts.

According to Beykpour, Particle uses embedding models to determine when podcast content relates to a specific news story. These models come from the same providers that supply large language models but are not generative AI tools. “We use vector embeddings to understand that these different parts of the podcasts are related to these different stories,” Beykpour notes. “A single podcast might cover 10 or 20 stories, so we use AI to understand that. We also use AI to do some of the logic around clipping, and understanding when to start a clip and end a clip.”

For transcription, Particle uses technology from ElevenLabs. However, the system that decides exactly where to clip the audio is proprietary to Particle. The strategy of using podcasts to gauge public commentary is gaining traction in newsrooms as well. As Nieman Lab reported this month, The New York Times has developed a custom AI tool that employs LLMs to transcribe and summarize episodes from dozens of right-wing and conservative podcasts, helping the outlet better understand influencers’ perspectives.

Particle’s Podcast Clips feature isn’t limited to news stories. Because the app recognizes various entities—such as people, places, or things—users can visit a page dedicated to a public figure, like OpenAI CEO Sam Altman, to see a feed of all his podcast appearances.

Particle has also been expanding its feature set in other areas. The company recently launched its first monetization effort with Particle+, an optional subscription priced at $2.99 per month or $29.99 per year. Subscribers gain access to premium features, including: the ability to request news summaries in a preferred style using natural language; a choice of voices for the personalized audio feed; a “Listen to the News” function; unlimited crossword puzzles; support for private questions via an AI chatbot; and more.

The Android release includes several other updates. The browse tab now features timely topics, such as the 2026 Winter Olympics, alongside standard categories like politics, technology, and entertainment. Additionally, tapping on an entity brings up a new page with a definition, related stories, articles, connected entities, and relevant topics.

Particle has not disclosed user activity or conversion rate data, but Beykpour highlighted the app’s international reach prior to the Android launch. On a weekly basis, 55% of Particle’s users are located outside the United States, with India—accounting for 15% of users—being its largest market after the U.S.