Google’s AI notebook creates podcasts from your notes — and they’re incredibly good

NotebookLM’s Audio Overview takes it to the next level by turning written notes into engaging podcast-style audio summaries. After two weeks of daily use, I can confidently say that this feature isn’t just a novelty – it’s a game changer.

AI, AI, AI. It’s everywhere, isn’t it? The relentless push to embrace AI can sometimes make you want to avoid it out of sheer resistance. But trust me, there are some really useful AI tools out there amidst the noise, and Google’s NotebookLM is one of them.

It’s one of those rare gems that proves AI can be incredibly practical — and it’s always getting better. Its latest feature, Sound Overview, is a game changer. From the first moment I tried it, I knew it would become a part of my daily routine. Now, after two weeks, I can say that it is necessary.

NotebookLM may seem like just another AI chatbot, similar to ChatGPT, but it has a key advantage: its knowledge is based on your own notebooks. You can upload notes, lectures, essays, or book chapters, and NotebookLM will draw from that content—not from a wide, often unreliable network—to answer your questions and meet your requirements.

I find that Google’s AI experiments are often more impressive than their core AI products. While I’ve never warmed to Gemini, I’ve always admired the tools from Google’s AI Test Kitchen. NotebookLM is cut from the same cloth – proof that artificial intelligence in note-taking apps isn’t all that uncommon.

There’s a lot to like about NotebookLM, but today let’s focus on its most exciting new feature: Audio Overview.

Turn notes into podcasts

The Audio Overview feature essentially turns your notes into a podcast. Imagine this: two virtual hosts, one male and one female, discussing your notes in a relaxed and engaging way. It’s like having a custom podcast episode made from your material. To use it, simply open your laptop and go to Notebook Guideand click Generate under Sound overview.

These AI-generated podcasts won’t cover every detail, but will provide a comprehensive summary. Typically, one host acts as an expert while the other asks relevant, probing questions. This back-and-forth dynamic keeps the content alive and engaging, with questions that are often straightforward. Check out the example below to see what I mean.

One of the standout aspects is how the hosts increase understanding. They include analogies, comparisons, and even proverbs to make the material clearer and easier to digest. NotebookLM’s audio overview really lives up to its promise of simplifying complex information.

Surprisingly vivid voices

The voices in the podcast are impressively natural, with realistic speech patterns that sometimes include stuttering or self-corrections. I played one of these episodes while driving with a friend and he didn’t even realize it was AI.

While there are occasional typos – such as an over-enthusiastic “absolutely” abrupt interruption – these are rare and do not detract from the overall experience. You can listen to a sample below.

Podcasts vary in length based on your notes, 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 complete 60-minute podcast. Impressively, the hosts even take “breaks” every 20 minutes to say things like, “Okay, that’s a lot to take in. Let’s rest and come back!” Of course, they’re ready to resume as soon as you lift the suspension.

Customize the audio overview

Currently, the Audio Overview output is only in English, although NotebookLM understands multiple languages. You have a degree of customization with a text box where you can specify what the report should highlight.

While you can’t change the voices, you can nudge the AI ​​to focus on specific aspects of the content. Similar to AI music generators like Suno, these prompts act as suggestions rather than strict guidelines, so results may vary.

Unlike ChatGPT, NotebookLM doesn’t know who you are and doesn’t try to guess from the contents of your notebook. So take this pro tip from me: always specify your intended use of the podcast in your customization prompt.

Without specification, for example, AI could present content as if it were for a general audience. I study pharmacy and NotebookLM could focus the podcast on patients and not on pharmacists. Below is an example from my migraine notes where the AI ​​for some reason decided my notes were for presentation.

This is where a custom challenge like this comes in handy:

This gives you a tailored sound overview that perfectly suits your needs.

NotebookLM prefers to load the entire audio file before playing it, so larger podcasts may take some time to start. Fortunately, you can download the MP3 file for offline listening. You can share podcasts using a link, but if the podcast is large, it will take a while to load.

But what are AI podcasts good for?

As a student, I tried to find relevant podcasts that talk about what I want to know. NotebookLM’s Audio Overview solves this problem by creating podcasts about exactly what I want to study, in mere moments. My professors will hate me if they ever read this, but AI podcasts help me understand the material path better than taking any university courses. It’s really fantastic.

The main advantage for me is that I can listen to them while driving. If I have to study but also need to run errands, I won’t worry so much about not studying. I will have an exclusive podcast talking about exactly what I wanted to study and I will play in the car as I drive for as long as I need.

NotebookLM’s audio review was more helpful than I could have imagined. I have no other way to emphasize this than to repeat myself: it is truly fantastic.