NotebookLM, the AI-powered research tool from Google, has received a significant upgrade that allows users to transform material into podcast-style discussions. This new feature, called “Audio Overview,” enables users to input various types of content—such as documents, slides, charts, and web pages—and receive a summarized audio discussion in seconds, which can be downloaded for on-the-go listening.
The feature includes two AI-generated ‘podcast hosts’ who engage in a conversational style, drawing connections and making sense of the topics presented in the material. Citizen Digital tested the tool by running a 195-word blog post through it, producing a 7-minute audio segment that mimicked a real podcast, complete with humor and banter between the hosts.
Biao Wang, Product Manager at Google Labs, cautioned users in a blog post that these generated discussions reflect the uploaded sources and are not necessarily comprehensive or objective views on the topics discussed. Currently, users cannot choose the number of speakers, their attributes (such as gender, age, language, or accent), or the length of the discussion. Google has noted that for larger notebooks, it may take several minutes to generate an Audio Overview.
Moreover, the AI hosts only speak English at this time and may introduce inaccuracies, with no option to interrupt them during their explanations.
To use NotebookLM’s ‘Audio Overview’ feature:
1. Visit NotebookLM at [notebooklm.google.com](http://notebooklm.google.com).
2. Create a new notebook.
3. Add at least one source.
4. Click the “Generate” button located at the top-right of your notebook guide.
