Google has introduced a new experimental feature within its AI note-taking app, NotebookLM, that can transform your research into an AI-generated podcast. This feature uses two AI “hosts” to summarize your material, make connections between topics, and engage in light banter. The AI podcast feature is an extension of NotebookLM’s existing capabilities, which already use Google’s Gemini AI model to help summarize notes and research documents.
Now, users can listen to an audio version of their summaries.
The AI hosts aren’t just presenting facts—they engage in lively conversations, as seen when testing a sample notebook about the invention of the lightbulb. The AI hosts discussed teamwork in the invention and even used casual language, like saying “messy as heck” or “bling bling metal” when referring to platinum. Despite some quirks—like spelling out words during conversation—the hosts sound surprisingly human.
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Although this makes learning more engaging, the casual tone might not be appropriate for serious subjects like cancer or war. Additionally, the feature can be slow, taking several minutes to generate, and it’s currently only available in English. It’s also not always completely accurate, as Google warns it’s “not a comprehensive or objective view of a topic, but simply a reflection” of the notes.
To try it, users can open a notebook in NotebookLM, select the Notebook Guide, and load the “Audio Overview” to hear the AI hosts discuss their research.
