In this post, we will show you how to create a podcast using Google NotebookLM AI. NotebookLM (built with Gemini) is an AI-powered research and writing assistant from Google. This AI notebook and research assistant tool can summarize facts from your existing content and explain complex concepts in simple terms. You can upload your sources (a PDF file, TXT, Markdown, MP3, YouTube link, etc.) to create a notebook, and then NotebookLM generates a summary based on the uploaded content, provides explanations, and answers to your questions, and lets you create and save notes to the notebook. Now the tool also comes with a powerful Audio Overview feature to turn your document into engaging audio discussion like a podcast.
Can NotebookLM create a podcast?
Yes, NotebookLM can create a podcast-like audio summary for the input content. With the Audio Overview feature of NotebookLM, two AI hosts start up a lively “deep dive” discussion based on the input sources. This is done by summarizing the input material and making a connection between the topics. The audio summary is not a robotic recitation but a human-sounding conversation (like a podcast) with male and female voices.
Now before we begin with the process of creating a podcast, look at some important options of the Audio Overview feature of Google NotebookLM:
- Before generating a podcast, you can provide instructions to customize the audio overview
- While listening to the podcast, you can also change playback speed by 0.5x, 0.8x, 1.0x, 1.2x, 1.5x, 1.8x, and 2.0x
- You can download a podcast as a WAV file to your PC
- The Share Audio Overview option is also there to generate a public sharing link for the podcast
- An option to delete the podcast is also available.
How to create Podcast using NotebookLM AI?
The steps to create a podcast using Google NotebookLM AI are as follows:
- Open notebooklm.google
- Press the Try NotebookLM button and sign in with your Google account
- Now a welcome page appears to create your first notebook. Press the Create button on that page
- An Add sources box will open using which you can upload the input sources. You can add up to 50 sources in a notebook. The current limit is 500,000 words per source or 200MB for uploaded files. The supported source types are audio files, copy-pasted text, URLs (including URLs of public YouTube videos), Google Slides, Google Docs, Markdown files, PDFs (including image-only PDF files), and TXT files. To upload a file from your PC, use the Choose file option or drag and drop it in the box
- Now NotebookLM will automatically summarize the sources. In your Notebook guide, you will see a summary of the uploaded sources, Suggested questions, a Help me create section to create FAQs, a Table of Contents, a study guide, etc., and an Audio Overview section
- In the Audio Overview section, there is a Deep Dive conversation box. There, press the Generate button to create a podcast
- You can also press the Customize button and add instructions about what the AI hosts should focus on or leave this option
- Wait till the audio overview is generated. It may take a few minutes for a long notebook
- After generating the audio overview, you can listen to it and share it with others. To create a sharing link, click on the Upload icon. Turn on the Public access button in the Sharing Audio Overview and use the Copy share link button
- You can also change the playback speed, and download, and delete the podcast. To access these options, click the three vertical dots icon (next to the Upload icon).
When a podcast is deleted, you can generate another audio overview anytime.
Later, whenever you want to access the podcast for a notebook, open the notebook, and click on the Notebook guide option on the bottom right area. This will show the summary of the content, the Audio Overview section, and other options.
This Audio Overview feature of NotebookLM is surely beneficial and interesting but it has a few limitations. It doesn’t support upload of PDF documents from Google Drive so you have to upload PDFs from your system. Currently, the audio overview is generated in English only. Also, we can’t change the number of AI hosts and voices for the podcast. And, once an audio overview is generated, we can’t customize it unless we delete it and generate a new one. But overall, it serves the purpose.
Now read: How to listen to Apple podcasts on your PC
Can I use AI to create a podcast?
Yes, you can use an AI tool to create a podcast. NotebookLM (by Google), Wondercraft AI, etc., are good examples of creating an interesting podcast. You can easily generate a podcast with realistic AI voices, support for multiple source types to add input and a user-friendly interface. You can also use additional options or features like sharing or downloading a podcast, adding custom AI sound effects, collaboration, audio editor, etc., depending on the AI tool and plans.
Read next: Best free Podcast Directories to listen to popular Podcasts.
