Google’s AI can turn almost anything you read into a podcast

Part of my job here at PCWorld is taking complex topics and breaking them down into easy-to-understand, approachable content. But even for me, sometimes I need someone to explain it all in simpler terms instead. Google has two really cool AI tools for this exact purpose.

Google’s Gemini Notebook (formerly NotebookLM) can turn long articles, reports, and research papers into podcast-style conversations between two AI hosts. They’ll go over the main points, explain tricky concepts, and make even the driest material a little easier to digest.

To use it you just create a new notebook, upload the text document you want it to convert, or drop a website link. Then head to the Studio panel on the righthand side and select Audio Overview. It allows you to customize the discussion’s length, and even tell the AI hosts which topics you’d like them to focus on.

It takes a few minutes to convert, but then you’ll have a surprisingly realistic discussion of the text you imported. One of my favorite features is the ability to join in on the conversation. I often join in and ask clarifying questions or add opinions to guide the discussion however I’d like.