Google turns your research into an AI-generated podcast

NotebookLM, the AI-powered note-taking app Google launched last year, just got a major upgrade! Google unveiled “Audio Overview,” a feature that transforms your research materials into an engaging conversation.

Conversations between two AI hosts that bring your research to life

Imagine two friendly AI hosts discussing the intricacies of your research topic. That’s the experience Audio Overview offers. Simply upload your sources – articles, transcripts, webpages – and with a click, the AI goes to work, summarizing your findings, drawing connections between ideas, and even throwing in some lighthearted banter. Google wants to make clear though that the feature is “not a comprehensive or objective view of a topic, but simply a reflection” of your notes.

There are some growing pains, too. The feature is still under development, so generating these “audio podcasts” can take a few minutes, and for now, the AI hosts only speak English. Accuracy can be a concern as well, and interrupting them isn’t possible yet.

A new dimension to understanding complex topics

The Audio Overview feature is part of NotebookLM’s ongoing expansion, which has included global availability and the integration of Gemini 1.5’s multimodal capabilities. This has enabled new features such as Google Slides and web URL support, improved fact-checking methods, and the ability to create study guides, briefing documents, and more.

Audio Overview is a fascinating step forward for learning through listening. This feature adds a new dimension to understanding information, making it easier to grasp complex topics and retain key concepts.