NotebookLM is turning into the podcasts app I didn’t know I wanted

Many of us are already AI-weary, together with me. From generating bland content material and changing our jobs to water-hogging knowledge facilities and the existential doom possibility, there’s so much to hate about it. ‘AI slop’ has briefly entered our vocabulary, and for just right explanation why. It’s prime on that listing of causes to dislike the tech for many of us, however we shouldn’t tar completely each little bit of media churned out by means of AI gear with that brush. After my contemporary creation to AI-generated podcasts created with NotebookLM, I’m in a position to protect them — no less than to some degree.

It used to be Google’s very good app that opened my eyes, and in contrast to part of my colleagues, I’ve by no means even used it myself. Welcome to 2026, the place my second-hand AI reviews rely as analysis.

I made this realization as a result of I latterly visited South Korea for the primary time, and idea it could be helpful to get a really feel for where ahead of I arrived. Podcasts are my medium of selection for finding out at the present time, so my herbal intuition used to be to leap into my podcast app and spot if there used to be a pod devoted to Korean tradition. In spite of everything, there’s one for nearly the entirety else. After scrolling thru a couple of that didn’t fairly are compatible the invoice, I got here throughout ‘Working out Korea, One Tale at a Time’ by means of Jiwon Yoon, Ph.D. It gave the impression to be simply the explainer at the nation’s historical past and tradition that I used to be in search of.

The item is, Jiwon wasn’t the host of the early episodes I used to be being attentive to. She’s a Korean-born author and previous tenured professor who writes a Substack about Korean society. This comes to in depth analysis, so she determined to offload all her notes, together with those who didn’t make it into her Substack articles, into NotebookLM. As you might know by means of now, from there you’ll simply use the Audio Overviews function, and also you’ve straight away were given your self a podcast episode. Jiwon explains that that is precisely what she’s carried out within the episode description.

I used to be in two minds about this. Instinctively, it didn’t really feel fairly proper to have Korea defined to me by means of two hosts who don’t seem to be simplest now not Korean however don’t even exist. Alternatively, NotebookLM generates its Audio Overviews only from the supply subject matter you give it, so the danger of sketchy references or outright hallucinations is far decreased. On this case, in depth notes had been supplied by means of a Korean local who is aware of the rustic higher than nearly all of other people. I gave it a check out, and used to be briefly offered on it.

When you’ve ever attempted Audio Overviews your self, chances are you’ll agree that Google has most often carried out an excellent process with the AI hosts. They’re some distance from easiest, every now and then announcing rather incongruous issues, and also you additionally begin to realize sure patterns within the construction which are paying homage to AI writing. Alternatively, they’re additionally truly fairly enticing and unusually just right at emulating a rapport. They play off every different, wonder on the info about Korean tradition, and provides Jiwon due credit score for her paintings. Google has obviously carried out its analysis at the dynamics that make most sensible podcasts simple to revel in and has programmed them into NotebookLM.

Let me be very transparent right here: I’d a lot reasonably pay attention to a well-made podcast with human hosts. As an example, I’m a large fan of The Leisure is Historical past podcast, and podcasts generated with NotebookLM protecting the similar subject matter wouldn’t be part as relaxing. We construct a quasi-relationship with the human hosts of our favourite podcasts, and AI can do valuable little to copy that.

Having mentioned that, there are lots of unhealthy podcasts available in the market, and I feel NotebookLM does a greater process than a lot of them. It no less than has the decency to not spend the primary 12 mins discussing the hosts’ weekend. That’s simply my non-public choice, by means of the way in which — I’m totally conscious that this isn’t a just right factor for the podcast business at huge. But when it’s going to occur anyway, then budding podcasters’ loss will no less than be academia’s achieve.

Teachers continuously have the most efficient tale to inform, or get right of entry to to it. They have got little-known info and groundbreaking insights. There are numerous discoveries and sizzling takes in academia that may passion a mainstream target audience, however they will simplest get so far as a dense essay or an impenetrable thesis. Some turn into entertaining substacks or decently promoting books, nevertheless it’s an excessively small share that make it previous the written phrase.

One explanation why is that teachers continuously aren’t naturals within the leisure industry. Have been the bookish nerds additionally the charismatic elegance entertainers on your college? No, mine neither. That isn’t to throw any colour on teachers, and there are exceptions to the rule of thumb — the aforementioned Leisure is Historical past podcast is a superb instance of bona fide historians who additionally understand how to interact the listener.

Alternatively, numerous different teachers don’t have the inclination or the presentation taste to transform their paintings into one thing for a mainstream target audience. If Spielberg or Cameron doesn’t flip their analysis right into a Hollywood blockbuster, the common individual in the street is not likely to listen to it. Or even then, somebody almost definitely must be chased by means of a dinosaur first.

And for any scholarly varieties who wish to make a podcast, it nonetheless takes some funding and technology. You want the best house and kit, which is turning into extra available however nonetheless prices cash. Then you want wisdom of the way the medium works. Once more, this isn’t vastly prohibitive, nevertheless it takes time and dedication.

NotebookLM and apps love it provide an obtrusive resolution. An insightful and well-reasoned essay on South Korean tradition may also be became a podcast free of charge in an issue of mins, and having AI hosts is the trade-off. Jiwon Yoon now writes and gifts her podcast, nevertheless it used to be NotebookLM that helped her get the ball rolling.

I will be able to’t blame any person for detesting the theory of the AI revolution, and I’m under no circumstances an recommend for it. However it’s taking place to us whether or not we love it or now not, so let’s no less than embody the alternatives it gifts. If NotebookLM podcasts can convey concepts out of educational corners I’d by no means typically succeed in and into the time I’m doing chores or caught in site visitors, then perhaps that’s one small a part of the AI long term value preserving.