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NotebookLM’s Audio Overview has taken note-taking to the next level by turning written notes into engaging, podcast-style audio summaries. After two weeks of using it daily, I can confidently say that this feature is not just a novelty—it’s a game-changer.
NotebookLM: An AI Tool That Stands Out
AI, AI, AI. It’s everywhere, isn’t it? Sometimes, the relentless push for AI adoption can make you want to avoid it out of sheer resistance. But trust me, amidst the noise, there are genuinelyuseful AI tools, and Google’s NotebookLM is one of them.
Google’s AI experiments are more impressive than their core AI products, at least to me. While I never warmed to Gemini, I really liked thetools from Google’s AI Test Kitchen. NotebookLM is cut from the same cloth—and it’s proof thatAI in note-taking apps isn’t all gimmicky.
NotebookLM might seem like just anotherAI chatbot, similar to ChatGPT, but it has a key advantage: its knowledge is built around your own notebooks. you’re able to upload notes, lectures, essays, or book chapters, and NotebookLM will draw from this content—not the wide, often unreliable web—to answer your questions and fulfill your requests.
There’s a lot to love about NotebookLM, but today, let’s focus on its most exciting new feature: Audio Overview.
Turning Notes Into Podcasts
The Audio Overview feature essentially transforms your notes into a podcast. Picture this: two virtual hosts, one male and one female, discussing your notes in a relaxed, engaging manner. It’s like having a tailored podcast episode produced from your material. To use it, simply open your notebook, navigate toNotebook Guide, and clickGenerateunderAudio Overview.
TheseAI-generated podcastswon’t cover every detail but will provide a comprehensive summary. Typically, one host acts as the expert while the other asks relevant, probing questions. This back-and-forth dynamic makes the content feel lively and engaging, with questions that are often spot-on. Check out the example below to see what I mean.
One standout aspect is how the hosts enhance understanding. They incorporate analogies, comparisons, and even proverbs to make the material clearer and easier to digest. NotebookLM’s Audio Overview really delivers on its promise to simplify complex information.
Surprisingly Lifelike Voices
The voices in the podcast are impressively natural, with realistic speech patterns that sometimes include stutters or self-corrections. I played one of these episodes during a drive with a friend and he didn’t even realize it was AI.
Although there are the occasional slip-ups—like an overly enthusiastic “absolutely” abruptly cut off—these are rare and don’t detract from the overall experience. You can listen to an example below.
Of course, this feature isn’t limited to university or school use. While my experience has been focused on academic material, I can easily see NotebookLM’s Audio Overview being valuable for any topic you want to dive into.
The length of the podcasts varies with your notes, ranging from five-minute summaries to hour-long deep dives. For example, when I fed it 100 pages of notes from my oncology internship, it produced a comprehensive 60-minute podcast. Impressively, the hosts even take “breaks” every 20 minutes, saying things like, “Okay, that’s a lot to absorb. Let’s take a break and come back!” Of course, they’re ready to continue as soon as you unpause.
Customizing Your Audio Overview
Currently, the Audio Overview feature only outputs in English, even though NotebookLM can understand multiple languages. You have a degree of customization with a text box where you can specify what the overview should emphasize.
While you may’t change the voices, you can nudge the AI to focus on specific aspects of the content. Similar tomusic generator AIs like Suno, these prompts act more as suggestions rather than strict guidelines, so results can vary.
Unlike ChatGPT, NotebookLM doesn’t know who you are, and it doesn’t try to guess from the contents of the notebook. So, take this pro tip from me: always specify the intended use of the podcast in your customization prompt.
For example, without clarification, the AI might present content as if for a general audience. I study pharmacy, and NotebookLM might gear the podcast toward patients instead of pharmacists. Below is an example from my migraines notes, where the AI, for some reason, decided that my notes were for a presentation.
Here’s where a customization prompt like this comes in handy:
This is for my pharmacotherapy exam. Focus on the pathophysiology, treatment, and overall management of the conditions.
With that, you’ll get a tailored audio overview that fits your needs perfectly.
NotebookLM prefers to load the entire audio file before playing, so larger podcasts may take some time to start. Fortunately, you’re able to download the MP3 file for offline listening. You can share the podcasts with a link, but again, if it’s a big one it’ll take a while to load.
But What Good Are AI Podcasts?
As a student, I’ve struggled to find relevant podcasts that talk about what I want to know. NotebookLM’s Audio Overview solves this problem by creating podcasts on exactly what I want to study, and in mere moments. My professors will hate me if they ever read this, but the AI podcasts help me understand the material way better than attending some university classes. It’s truly fantastic.
The main perk for me is that I can listen to these while driving. If I have to study but also need to run errands, I won’t be as anxious about not studying. I’ll have an exclusive podcast talking about exactly what I meant to study, playing in the car as I drive for however long I need to.
NotebookLM’s Audio Overview has been more helpful than I could have imagined. I have no other means of emphasizing this but to repeat myself: it is truly fantastic.
