NotebookLM, Google's AI-powered note-taking and research app, is getting a really neat feature that aims to make digesting complex information even easier. The new "Audio Overview" function, converts uploaded documents into engaging audio discussions between two AI hosts.
If you're not already familiar with it, NotebookLM, is a personalized AI research assistant powered by Google's Gemini 1.5 Pro model. You can upload various document types, including Google Docs, PDFs, and more recently, Google Slides and web URLs. The app then becomes an instant expert on the material, providing source-grounded responses with in-line citations.
The new Audio Overview feature, which was first previewed at Google I/O earlier this year as "Illuminate", takes this a step further. With a single click, users can generate a conversation between two AI hosts who discuss and summarize the uploaded content. These discussions aim to highlight key points, make connections between topics, and present information in a more dynamic, conversational format.
This audio-based approach offers several potential benefits:
- Alternative learning format: Some users may find it easier to absorb information through listening rather than reading.
- Multitasking: The ability to download these conversations allows users to review their research while on the go.
- Fresh perspective: The back-and-forth nature of the discussion might surface new insights or connections within the material.
Google emphasizes that these generated discussions should not be considered comprehensive or entirely objective. They are reflections of the specific sources uploaded by the user.
To give a better idea as to how it works, I created a notebook and dropped a recent op-ed that Richard wrote on product leadership in the age of AI. If you haven't read it yet, I highly recommend it.
Richard Banfield
Now listen to the generated Audio Overview below:
I mean, it's not perfect, but it's a really cool way to consume content quickly and retain information better. And it will only get better over time.
The Audio Overview feature joins a suite of recent upgrades to NotebookLM. Earlier this year, the app expanded globally and incorporated Gemini 1.5's multimodal capabilities. This allowed for improved handling of visual elements like charts and diagrams within documents.
Other notable features of NotebookLM include:
- Instant generation of study guides, briefing documents, and other organizational tools
- Fact-checking assistance with direct links to supporting passages in source material
- Privacy controls that ensure personal data isn't used to train the underlying AI model
While promising, the Audio Overview feature is still very much a work in progress. For now, the output is English only, and it takes several minutes to generate audio—especially for large notebooks. Also, you cannot yet interrupt or interact with the AI hosts during playback. And as with many generative AI tools, it has the potential for occasional inaccuracies.
Still, I'm very excited about NotebookLM. As AI reshapes how we process and interact with information, tools like this represent an intriguing step towards more dynamic, personalized learning experiences. We could all benefit from a bit more of that.