Google has rolled out an update to its AI-powered note-taking and research assistant, NotebookLM, introducing new customization options for its audio summarization feature.
This enhancement allows users to guide conversations toward specific topics rather than receiving generic audio summaries.
Launched just last month, NotebookLM’s audio Overviews have gained traction, enabling users to easily digest lengthy documents or videos through AI-generated conversations. The feature has proven popular on social media, with users sharing audio summaries derived from personal journals and other content.
While Google hasn’t disclosed specific user statistics, website traffic analytics from SimilarWeb indicate that NotebookLM’s monthly visits surged by over 371% in September, reaching 3.07 million, up from 652,181 the previous month.
Previously, the audio Overviews were generated automatically, sometimes covering less relevant content. The latest update introduces a “Customize” control that allows users to instruct the AI on which topics to emphasize.
NotebookLM’s product leader, Raiza Martin, explained that this enhancement enables users to provide direction to the AI, making the audio conversations more relevant to their needs.
Martin noted that user feedback was crucial in shaping this update. “The number one feature that emerged was the desire for users to give the AI a little nudge,” she stated. The customization options may also help mitigate instances of AI-generated inaccuracies, known as hallucinations.
Importantly, Martin clarified that user input will not be used to train the AI model. “In general, we do not train on user data,” she emphasized, while encouraging users to share their experiences.
In addition to customization, NotebookLM now features background listening for audio Overviews, allowing users to continue working while the audio plays.
Initially introduced at Google’s I/O developer conference last year, NotebookLM became publicly accessible in December and expanded to over 200 countries, including India and the U.K., in June. It has attracted over 80,000 organizations, prompting Google to launch a NotebookLM Business pilot program that offers early access to features and training for businesses.
While specific pricing details for the Business version are forthcoming, Martin indicated that Google is eager to gather feedback from organizations on desired features.
Currently, NotebookLM receives approximately 4.17 million monthly visits, with a split of 2.5 million from desktops and 1.6 million from mobile devices. Although there is no dedicated mobile app yet, Martin confirmed that the team is exploring a native mobile experience and additional enhancements for audio Overviews, including new voices and languages.
NotebookLM recently expanded its capabilities to include summarizing YouTube videos and audio files, along with existing sources like Google Drive and PDFs. Martin highlighted that PDFs and YouTube videos are the most frequently used sources among users.
