Forget NotebookLM! Generate Audio Overview Podcasts Directly in Gemini Now
NotebookLM has an audio overview feature that can create podcasts with your uploaded data. A much easier way to learn something with a natural conversation between two people or AI bots. This has been my biggest reason to useNotebookLMalong with Gemini. Now, Google is bringing this feature directly to Gemini. So is this the time to finally leave NotebookLM? Well, the answer is not that simple.
Gemini’s New Audio Overview Feature
Google has integratedNotebookLM’sAudio Overview feature into Gemini, making it incredibly easy to generate podcast-style summaries of documents, slides, reports, and even conversations you had with Gemini. Just upload a text-based document, and Gemini transforms it into a podcast featuring two AI-generated hosts who discuss the key points naturally, making it much easier to absorb information without having to read through lengthy texts.
What makes this feature stand out is the quality. The AI voices sound surprisingly human, with a natural back-and-forth conversation rather than a robotic monotone. You can upload files in formats like Google Docs, PDFs, and Slides, with support for up to 10 files at a time, each up to 100MB. Alternatively, you can also create a report usingGemini’s Deep Research featureand use that as a source to generate a podcast.
Once uploaded, click on theGenerate Audio Overviewbutton, and within minutes your AI-generated podcast is ready.
The length of the podcast depends on the size of the documents. For example, a 44-page document generated a 38-minute podcast. Also, uploading larger files or more files takes more time for Gemini to process. For me, it generated in less than a minute for a small document but took around 7-8 minutes to generate this 38-minute podcast.
Audio Overview is available to all Gemini users, both free and Gemini Advanced, and works on both the web and mobile versions. However, as of now, it only supports English, with more languages expected to roll out within a week. Also remember, that Gemini has different AI models that work differently with Audio Overview feature.
The podcast may not contain every small detail from the uploaded data though. Rather, it focuses on touching all the ‘key’ points and giving you an overall understanding. To dig deeper, you can ask questions to Gemini about a particular point and Gemini will answer that by taking your documents as the source.
So, Is It Time to Leave NotebookLM? Not Really
For many people, yes. If you only used NotebookLM for its Audio Overview feature, then switching to Gemini makes sense. It’s more integrated and accessible directly within Gemini’s chat interface. However, NotebookLM still holds significant advantages that Gemini doesn’t fully replicate – yet.
That said, if your primary use case is generating quick, engaging audio overviews, Gemini’s integration makes it a solid alternative. It removes the extra step of switching between two tools and makes AI-generated podcasts more accessible to a larger audience. But for those who need deep research tools and advanced document management, NotebookLM remains the better choice.
Ravi Teja KNTS
Tech writer with over 4 years of experience at TechWiser, where he has authored more than 700 articles on AI, Google apps, Chrome OS, Discord, and Android. His journey started with a passion for discussing technology and helping others in online forums, which naturally grew into a career in tech journalism. Ravi’s writing focuses on simplifying technology, making it accessible and jargon-free for readers. When he’s not breaking down the latest tech, he’s often immersed in a classic film – a true cinephile at heart.
