It aims to build on NotebookLM's existing features that help you interact with all your notes, transcripts, and other research documents. The app already uses Google's Gemini AI model to summarize your research, and this is something of an audio version of that.
Google isn't making anything up when it says the AI presenters will “joke” with each other, either. When I tried Audio Overview myself, I plugged in one of the sample notebooks about the invention of the lightbulb and the results were… a little spooky. During the 10-minute overview, the two presenters chatted cheerfully about how Thomas Edison wasn't the only person behind the lightbulb and that “in the end, it's actually a story about teamwork that makes the dream come true.”
The hosts were able almost with human podcasters, from the way they emphasized “bam!” when they threw it in the middle of a sentence to the use of modern expressions like “messy as heck.” There were a few more quirks, as I noticed the AI spelling certain words and phrases, like “PLUS.” Some of the spelling wasn't exactly what a human would say either, and one AI host called platinum “bling-bling metal.”
The feature makes learning about research more engaging, but I wonder if the presenters would maintain their lighthearted, somewhat joking tone when discussing more serious topics like cancer or war. There's also quite a bit of filler during the conversation, so this may not be the best way to summarize all of your information quickly and clearly.
Google mentions this in its announcement, where it says that the feature is “not a comprehensive or objective look at a topic, but merely a reflection” of your notes.
There are a few other limitations with Audio Overview. According to Google, it can take several minutes to create a podcast-like discussion. Plus, it's only available in English. Like many AI tools, it's not always accurate.
You can try the feature yourself by opening a notebook in NotebookLM. There, select the notebook guide in the lower right corner of the screen and then press Load under the heading “Audio Overview.” I know I’m going to research a random topic just to hear what the AI podcasters have to say.