- Google’s NotebookLM launched Audio Overviews, which rapidly gained consideration for its realism.
- The characteristic makes use of the knowledge you feed it to create a “deep dive” dialogue hosted by two AI hosts.
Google’s new AI software is already making waves.
The tech big’s NotebookLM software not too long ago launched a characteristic known as Audio Overviews. Based on the knowledge you feed it, it generates a “deep dive,” podcast-like dialogue hosted by two AI hosts.
You can toss varied codecs its manner, corresponding to web site and YouTube hyperlinks, PDFs, audio information, Google Docs and Slides, and uncooked textual content. Once you get your customized AI-generated podcast, you can too obtain the Audio Overview and add it in NotebookLM to get a transcript.
NotebookLM, whereas not a family title like ChatGPT, is an AI-powered analysis and writing assistant that summarizes sources, creates examine guides and briefing paperwork, and fact-checks your work.
The new characteristic has created a web-based buzz as folks experiment with creating on-demand podcasts of their selecting. Some have referred to the characteristic as “mind-blowing” and others are sharing their completed merchandise, which vary from podcasts with the AI hosts “realizing” that they are AI to true crime podcasts primarily based on court docket paperwork.
I uploaded 200 pages of uncooked court docket paperwork to NotebookLM.
It created a real crime podcast that’s higher than 90% of what is on the market now…
And ends with the hosts debating the ethics of the style pic.twitter.com/AHJ0fN4yXj
— Olivia Moore (@omooretweets) September 29, 2024
Following pleasure concerning the new characteristic, NotebookLM’s product lead, Raiza Martin, shared plans to launch extra options.
“After that preliminary second of enjoyment, folks wish to affect the content material,” Martin wrote in a publish on X, previously Twitter. “Makes sense — now you need knobs for format, size, personas, voices, languages — I’m holding monitor and we’re engaged on it (some will come a lot sooner than others).”
The software’s influence has already spawned no less than one rival. An open-source competitor mentioned it had constructed an identical software known as Open NotebookLM in a single afternoon — although it has extra limits than Google’s model.
With all of the chatter about Google’s newest AI experiment, I made a decision to provide Audio Overviews a strive by creating a couple of podcasts on completely different subjects like neural networks and drama at OpenAI. Here are my takeaways.
The voices are reasonable and entertaining
After not too long ago attempting out ChatGPT’s Advanced Voice Mode, I believed I had heard one of the best of what AI has to supply shoppers when it comes to voice interplay.
To my shock, this NotebookLM-generated podcast exceeded something I’d heard up to now when it comes to AI voice high quality. Not solely do the voices sound actual, however the best way the AI hosts bounce off one another and banter mimics the fashion and construction of an actual podcast.
For instance, when the hosts had been speaking about OpenAI cofounder Ilya Sutskever’s journey on the firm (he resigned months after Sam Altman’s return as CEO), one of many hosts mentioned, “This is juicy stuff, inform me extra.” It strayed from the stiff and robotic voice I count on to listen to from AI-generated content material and supplied the entertaining aptitude I take pleasure in from podcasts.
The hosts additionally raised official questions on the subject at hand and exchanged considerate responses to data. It’s like listening to a lifelike dialog with two educated podcasters — and the power to personalize it to your pursuits is a recreation changer.
The high quality of the knowledge is strong
Each of the podcasts I generated gave an correct overview of the knowledge I fed it, and I did not catch any inaccuracies.
Like any AI software although, Audio Overviews is not excellent. Google notes on the backside of the display screen that “NotebookLM should still typically give inaccurate responses, so it’s possible you’ll wish to verify any info independently.”
With that in thoughts, I in all probability would not use it alone to coach me on a subject I’m in no way accustomed to, and it is a good suggestion to do your personal analysis — particularly if something is alleged that appears off or inaccurate.
As an avid podcast listener although, I used to be pleasantly stunned by the software. With so many AI developments popping out, it is uncommon that I’m left awestruck by a software that is really out there to mess around with, immediately.
Audio Overviews might be my favourite AI software I’ve tried out up to now — and it showcases the modern methods AI can be utilized in our day by day lives.
