NotebookLM’s virtual podcast hosts can now take your calls

[phillynews215]

• NotebookLM is getting some big upgrades for Gemini 2.0.
• You can now interrupt the hosts of an Audio Overview podcast and ask them questions.
• Google also gives the tool a new interface and is introducing a Plus version with higher usage limits.

With all the new AI-powered systems we see launched everyday, sometimes it feels like companies are just throwing stuff at the wall and seeing what sticks. This year, one that definitely stuck for us was NotebookLM, Google’s tool for summarizing information and offering the ability to present it in the form of an automatically generated “podcast,” complete with two virtual hosts. Following this week’s introduction of Gemini 2.0, Google’s sharing what’s next for NotebookLM, and that includes one very cool-sounding upgrade to its podcasts.

For starters, NotebookLM is showing off a new interface, with a very straightforward triptych layout. You compile all your source material over in the left panel, give NotebookLM instructions and let it know what you’re looking for in the middle, and configure your output options over on the right. The whole thing is responsive, letting you resize sections to work more comfortably as you go along.




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