Getting to know the new podcast is about to get easier. Apple has announced that it will automatically transcribe podcasts, which should allow more people to enjoy the episodes. Apple Podcasts will allow creators to upload their own transcript for the show or have Apple choose to create it.
There are some caveats to be aware of, though. Apple podcasts it should start generating the transcription when the episode is loaded. However, it has a “short delay” before it’s available, so people who want to play their favorite podcast right away will have to wait an unspecified amount of time (Apple tells podcasters to give at least 24 hours after downloading an episode). It is likely that the longer the episode, the longer it will take to complete the transcription. If parts of the recording are replaced with dynamically inserted audio, the transcription will not update and it will not display the lyrics.
Podcasters must adhere to Apple’s quality requirements for their episodes to be properly transcribed. According to Apple, podcasts people talking to each other or transcription with music may not be as good. If one chooses to self-download, it should be a VTT or SRT file. The podcaster can also edit the transcription for greater accuracy.
Apple Podcasts’ transcriptions should launch in iOS 17.4 in the spring in English, German, Spanish, and French. This feature is available in over 170 countries and regions, with older episodes being transcribed over time.
