The battle between ChatGPT and Gemini may have gotten most of our attention over the last year, but we can't forget one of the most innovative releases in the generative AI industry, and what's more people should know. We are talking about NotebookLM, an ideal AI for students and workers that helps us with all types of tasks.
NotebookLM is the evolution of note apps; In fact, it's more of an app to help research and study topics, with features that many projects should copy (if they can). NotebookLM's AI is capable of processing texts in all types of formats and creating summaries and presentations of the included data; accepts everything from PDF files to web pages or Google Docs documents. It is even capable of analyzing YouTube videos and presenting the information in a direct and easy-to-understand manner.
But without a doubt, the flagship function of NotebookLM is “Audio Preview”, capable of create a podcast with virtual hostsbased on the information we have provided; so we can listen to it anywhere and without having to pay attention to a screen. Today Google announced several new features for NotebookLM, and the most surprising concerns precisely this function.
Now, the “podcasts” created by NotebookLM are interactive; in other words, we can talk to the “presenter” with a voice call and ask questions related to the topic you are presenting. It sounds like science fiction, but basically you start a Gemini session based on the data the audio is based on. When it becomes available in Europe, we can simply press the “join” button, and the virtual presenter will “call” us and we can ask our questions.
This new function comes from the hand of a change in NotebookLM interface; This overhaul is divided into three sections, which may change size depending on their importance at any given time. The sources section includes all the important information for our project, the chat section allows us to discuss this information with a virtual assistant and the Studio panel allows us to generate new creations from our sources.
Google also took the opportunity to present a subscription plan, called NotebookLM Pluswhich allows access to a series of benefits such as a greater number of audio generations, greater customization and the possibility of sharing our work with other people. It will be part of Google One for consumers throughout 2025.
