There’s a new AI platform from Google that can be used to create out a podcast out of thin air, as long as you know how to prompt it.
In 2024, AI can do a lot. It can write poems, summarize emails, generate professional headshots, and perform a wide range of tasks that used to require the human hours to get the job done.
Well, you can officially add podcasting to the list of AI functionalities, with NotebookLM making it possible to generate an entire podcast, with all the “ummm” and “wells,” without picking up a microphone.
What Is NotebookLM?
NotebookLM is the experimental product from Google that allows users to access reliable sources of information to generate content. In its own word, NotebookLM is a personalized AI research assistant.
As for what’s powering NotebookLM, the AI research assistant currently utilizes the Gemini 1.5 Pro large language model to generate responses and provide users with valuable insights.
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It works like any other chatbot on the market today, although it adds a bit more authority than the error-prone AI iterations we’ve seen over the last few years. Instead of simply using all the information available to it online, users can add documents, notes, and other information to NotebookLM, so it has something to go off of before answering questions and summarize key points.
This kind of functionality has a lot of helpful use cases, one of which may be particularly interesting to those looking to get into the world of podcasting.
How to Make a Podcast with NotebookLM
Now, you’re probably asking yourself, how on Earth does an AI research assistant help me create a podcast out of thin air? A fair question, and obviously the reason why we’re explaining it to you.
Firstly, you’ll have to be signed into your Google account to get started. Then, you’ll have to find your source material, which can come in many forms, including a Google Doc, Google Slide, copied text, or a link to a website or YouTube video. We used a link to our Companies That Have Ended Fully Remote Work guide to generate a podcast.
Once you’ve added the link, you can generate a lot of content based on the source, including FAQs, table of contents, study guides, timelines, and briefing documents.
If you’re looking to make a podcast, though, which we know you are, all you have to do is click on the Generate button that is directly underneath the Audio Overview section on the NotebookLM interface. Once you’ve done so, the platform will take a few minutes to generate your podcast, and then you’ll be able to download or share it directly from NotebookLM.
How to Get the Most Out of NotebookLM
To be clear, you can’t just input whatever you want into NotebookLM, push the generate button, and get an award-wining podcast that people want to listen to. Like all the AI platforms out there, it takes a bit of fine tuning to get exactly what you’re looking for.
With NotebookLM, your best bet is to add as much data into the platform as possible. You can easily add sources with the little add box in the upper left corner of the interface, and the more the merrier, as it gives the AI more information to go on. In our test, we noticed it was clearly taking some information from other sources to fill the gaps, so really pile it on if you can.
Another tip for creating podcasts with NotebookLM is to check and recheck what has been generated. As we mentioned, AI is frequently making errors, or “hallucinations,” and given that NotebookLM is powered by Google Gemini, it’s definitely worth it to do a bit of editing.
