Google’s viral AI podcast tool just got more useful

Google’s NotebookLM now allows users to provide customized instructions for Audio Overviews tool, which generates a podcast-like discussion between two AI hosts.

Google’s NotebookLM is giving people what they asked for.

Shortly after the AI tool’s Audio Overview feature went viral, Google’s product lead for NotebookLM, Raiza Martin, shared plans to release more features. A few weeks later, the product has already launched a new set of updates based on user requests.

Google’s AI product made a splash in the tech world with its human-sounding “Deep Dive” conversation between two AI hosts, powered by the company’s Gemini 1.5 large language model. The NotebookLM tool allows users to generate a roughly 10-minute AI Overview — basically an AI-generated podcast discussion — based on the material you upload.

Martin told B-17 that “the No. 1 piece of feedback” the team got was that people wanted to provide a little more instruction for the AI hosts to focus on a particular topic or section from the uploaded content. Now, NotebookLM has added the ability for users to provide those instructions before generating the “Deep Dive” Audio Overview.

Users can now provide instructions to focus on a specific topic or section from the uploaded material. 

“Those are the types of things that people really, really wanted,” Martin told B-17. “So we wanted to unlock that quickly.”

The addition of the “Customize” button allows users to guide the AI conversation, asking the AI Overview to focus on specific topics or adjust the expertise level to further dial in how the material is covered. Users can also now listen to the Audio Overview while working in NotebookLM.

For example, if you were to upload some web links about the 2024 Presidential election, you could click “Generate” to create a podcast discussion that broadly covers what you uploaded or choose the new “Customize” option and prompt it to focus specifically on former President Donald Trump’s campaign.

Martin said she cares “a lot about enabling personalized generation,” which is the idea that you can steer models to fit a specific context. She said the ability to customize the “Deep Dive” conversation feels like curating follow-up podcast episodes based on the questions you have.

NotebookLM also released a couple more updates, like an upcoming paid business version with enhanced features. Users can apply for the pilot program for a chance to get early access to features. The company said in its announcement it will share more about the program’s availability and pricing later this year.

Additionally, with millions of people using the product, NotebookLM has officially removed the “Experimental” label for the product.