Google warns users that the tool is still an "experimental feature" and that their AI hosts may "pause awkwardly" before responding or even "introduce inaccuracies."
You can now talk to Google's NotebookLM's AI-generated podcast hosts following the latest update.
Launched in September, NotebookLM's tool, dubbed Audio Overviews, allows you to create an AI-generated podcast based on the text you feed into the app, whether it's a newspaper article, an academic paper, or an embarrassing high school diary.
Using your voice, you can now ask Google's AI hosts for more details or request that they explain a concept differently. Google says it's like having "a personal tutor" who listens to you and responds directly.
To try the new tool, open NotebookLM, and head to "Create a New Audio Overview." Tap the new "Interactive Mode (BETA)" button and hit play. While listening, tap "Join," and a host will call you so you can start asking questions.
However, users expecting a perfectly polished experience might want to temper their expectations. Google warns that the tool is still an "experimental feature" and that the AI hosts may "pause awkwardly" or even "introduce inaccuracies."
Google has announced several other updates about the future of NotebookLM, including a new subscription option called NotebookLM Plus. The subscription offers "five times more Audio Overviews, notebooks, and sources per notebook," as well as the ability to customize the style and length of notebook responses. Paying users will also gain access to features like "shared team notebooks with usage analytics" and enhanced privacy and security.
Currently, NotebookLM is available for businesses, schools, universities, organizations, and enterprise customers via Google Workspace. It can also be purchased separately via Google Cloud. The tool is then set to become available on Google One AI Premium starting in early 2025.
NotebookLM is also getting a visual update that organizes it into three distinct areas. A "Sources" panel for managing all the information for your project, a "Chat" panel for discussing your sources through conversational AI, and a "Studio" panel for creating new content -- like Audio Interfaces -- from your sources.