It aims to build on NotebookLM’s existing features that help you keep in touch with all your notes, transcripts, and other research documents. The app already uses Google’s Gemini AI model to help summarize your research, and it sounds like an audio version of it.
Google isn’t kidding when it says the AI host will “joke” with each other, either. When I was testing the Audio Overview for myself, I plugged in one of the sample notebooks about the invention of the lightbulb, and the results were… a little strange. During the 10-minute overview, the two hosts had a light-hearted discussion about how Thomas Edison wasn’t the only person behind the light bulb and that “ultimately, this is really a story about teamwork, which makes the dream work.”
Hosts can almost can be mistaken for podcasters, from the way they emphasize the “bam!” when it’s thrown into the middle of a sentence using a modern phrase like “messy what the hell.” There are still some quirks, as I noticed that the AI misspells certain words and phrases, like “PLUS.” Some of the writing isn’t exactly what one would say, either, with one AI host calling platinum “bling bling metal.”
The feature makes learning about research more engaging, but I wonder if the hosts will keep their light, somewhat humorous tone when discussing more serious topics, like cancer or war. There is also quite a bit of filler during the conversation, so it may not be the best way to digest all your information quickly and clearly.
That’s something Google mentioned in its announcement, as it says the feature is “not a comprehensive or objective look at a topic, but merely a reflection” of your notes.
There are some other limitations with Audio Overview, as Google says it can take several minutes to generate a podcast-like discussion, and it’s only available in English. As with many AI tools, it’s not always accurate.
You can test the feature for yourself by opening a notebook in NotebookLM. From there, select the Notebook guide in the lower-right corner of the screen, and then press Load up under the heading “Audio Overview.” I know I’ll do some research on a random topic just so I can hear what the AI podcasters have to say.
