Storytelling with NotebookLM
Recently, I was experimenting with Google’s NotebookLM and its podcast feature, feeding it information about my career, experiences, and personal reflections — essentially, the same data I’ve used to train my AI chat assistant I created. So this included details from my website, articles I’ve written or that have been written about me, and other curated insights.
The result? NotebookLM surprised me, I had seen posts about it but hearing it generate an incredibly engaging podcast about me and my work, was a pretty great experience.
A Story I Didn’t Know I Had
What stood out immediately was the AI’s ability to craft a compelling narrative.
It managed to make my data into a story that was not only cohesive but also intriguing. Listening to it, I found myself thinking, “Wow, I didn’t know I was this interesting.”
What’s more fascinating is how the AI inferred connections and expanded upon details I hadn’t explicitly provided. It turned what might have been a straightforward recounting of my career into a dynamic dialogue between two podcast speakers.
Their conversation highlighted milestones, delved into my motivations, and even drew thoughtful conclusions about my journey — all in a way that felt fresh and engaging.
The Human-Like Performance
Another aspect that struck me was the casual, almost human quality of the podcast. The AI speakers didn’t sound robotic or scripted. They used contractions, interrupted each other, and even mimicked natural breathing patterns.
This interplay gave the podcast an authentic feel, making it easy to forget that it wasn’t produced by actual humans. It’s a testament to how far conversational AI has come in replicating the nuances of human interaction.
I was curious what my daughters, aged 9 and 7 would think of the podcast. Their initial amazement at hearing a podcast about “Daddy” quickly turned to curiosity about its origin and they eventually caught on that it was generated by AI. (Kudos to them for figuring that out!) But it sparked a fun conversation about AI’s capabilities and how it’s reshaping how we share and consume stories.
A New Tool to Aid Storytelling
So lets be real, an AI-generated podcast should not be passed off as a “real” podcast, but the storytelling structure it created is immensely valuable. I can see the transcript — a blend of facts, inferences, and engaging dialogue — offering a great starting point for crafting a better story. It’s easy to envision adapting this content into an article, a video script, or even a polished podcast episode.
Why It Matters
Ok so, NotebookLM’s podcast isn’t a brand-new feature, and it has been discussed before.
But trying it firsthand has given me a fresh perspective on its potential. For someone like me, who often explores how GenAI can enhance creativity and communication, this experience underscored how GenAI helps us get past the “cold start” problem.