
Google's NotebookLM went viral due to its Audio Overviews feature, which creates AI-generated podcasts between two hosts based on your content. Now, Google has also made a much-anticipated leap into video.
Also: Google's new AI tool Opal turns prompts into apps, no coding required
On Tuesday, Google launched Video Overviews, a feature originally unveiled at Google I/O, that creates narrated slides from your content. The feature adds visual components to Audio Overviews, with the AI hosts creating new visuals that help illustrate the content, as seen below:
Oh, you thought that was it? In addition to our new look we've got some new tricks too:
🎉 VIDEO OVERVIEWS are starting rollout TODAY 🥳 (English + desktop only to start)
Create visually engaging slide summaries of your notebook content. We can't wait to see what you make! pic.twitter.com/DlVBo7Pi03
Video Overviews use cases (and how to access)
The slides incorporate the existing visual elements from your document, including images, diagrams, quotes, and numbers. I can see some useful applications for this feature for both working professionals and students. For example, when uploading a dense research paper or business report, the Video Overviews tool could break down the concepts and keep some of the key charts necessary to explain the topic.
Also: Google's new Search mode puts classic results back on top - how to access it
If you are familiar with Audio Overviews, you'll easily adjust to Video Overviews, which keeps some of the best customization features, such as specifying topics to focus on, learning goals, audience, and more, according to Google. Video Overviews is available to all English NotebookLM users. Google shares that additional formats will be added in the future, with narrated slides being the first format to launch in Video Overviews.
New look
The actual NotebookLM studio has received an upgraded look that goes beyond aesthetics and adds to its functionalities. With the redesign, users can "create and store multiple studio outputs," allowing them to produce different outputs from their content, such as Audio Overviews, Mind Maps, Reports, and Study Guides, and store them in one single notebook:
Introducing our ✨ brand new ✨ Studio UI. Rolling out today, you can:
🎙️ Create multiple outputs from the same sources (including AOs in different languages)
🎧 Listen to audio overviews while using other features (chat, FAQ, etc)
📄 Select sources when creating outputs pic.twitter.com/Hka10OkOtd
The new look includes four tiles at the top of the Studio panel to organize the content. Another added perk is the ability to explore multiple generated outputs simultaneously. For example, you could listen to your Audio Overviews AI-podcast while also reviewing a generated study guide, which you couldn't do before.
You can keep up with my latest stories and tech adventures on social media. Follow me on Twitter/X at @sabrinaa_ortiz and on Instagram at @sabrinaa.ortiz.