Google's NotebookLM Now Lets You Customize Its AI Podcasts

Google's NotebookLM app has been updated to let you generate custom podcasts from almost any source material. The AI software is also dropping the "experimental" tag. Wired reports: To make an AI podcast using NotebookLM, open up the Google Labs website and start a New Notebook. Then, add any source documents you would like to be used for the audio output. These can be anything from files on your computer to YouTube links. Next, when you click on the Notebook guide, you'll now see the option to generate a deep dive as well as the option to customize it first. Choose Customize and add your prompt for how you'd like the AI podcast to come out. The software suggests that you consider what sections of the sources you'd like highlighted, larger topics you want further explored, or different intended audiences who you want the message to reach.

One tip [Raiza Martin, who leads the NotebookLM team inside of Google Labs] shares for trying out the new feature is to generate the Audio Overview without changes, and while you're listening to this first iteration, write down any burning questions you have or topics you wish it expanded on. Afterwards, use these notes as a launching pad to create your prompts for NotebookLM and regenerate that AI podcast with your interests in mind. [...] Yes, Google's NotebookLM might flatten the specifics of a big document or get some details mixed up, but being able to generate more personalized podcasts from disparate sources truly does feel like a transformation -- and luckily nothing like turning into a giant bug. You can view some examples of AI-generated podcasts here.

Can it summarize how I don't want it?

[ebunga]

And that it's rude for them to keep pushing this junk? Oh, they sunk $100,000,000 into the garbage and can't back out? Sucks to be them.

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[quonset]

What if I try to impersonate a politician they like? Will they censor it?

You mean like Elmo censors [arstechnica.com] anything bad related to the politician he likes?

Re:

[Woeful Countenance]

The examples I've heard sounded irritatingly perky, as if the model had been trained on marketing presentations. But that's just me. There's probably someone who likes that sort of thing.

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[Darinbob]

I want a Woke Rogan podcast!

Anyway, if I have to have access to documents to feed to the podcast generator, why don't I read the documents in about 2 minutes, rather than listen to the 60 minute podcast?

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[Woeful Countenance]

You could make a podcast for other people to listen to, for example while they're driving or doing whatever it is other people do. Or, you know, someone else could do that.

I would never depend on google for anything

[walterbyrd]

Google has a long history of pulling the rug out from under you. They create some kind of service, then a few months later, change everything, or eliminate the service entirely. All the time, money and effort you spent are suddenly gone.