Google recently announced a new feature for its AI-powered research tool NotebookLM, called Video Overviews.
With this update, users can convert their notes, documents, images, and quotes into basic narrated video presentations for a more intuitive way to grasp complex subjects.
These overviews are actually narrated slideshows, not typical videos. According to Google, this format is great for dividing data, showing processes step-by-step or making a complex or abstract concept easy to understand.
The feature is only available in English for now, but Google says it’s working on bringing other languages on board as well.
Several fresh features began rolling out to all users this week. Users can upload their own content such as PDFs, charts or notes and ask about a specific topic in Video Overviews.
Depending on their knowledge level, intention, or audience, they can tailor their request. An example may be, a newcomer to a subject, who wants help interpreting diagrams, and an expert who wants to attend to a particular detail.
NotebookLM introduced Audio Overviews, where AI virtual hosts steadily delivered summaries of user documents like a podcast.
The new Video Overviews are a more visual take on the same concept, meeting people where they learn best.
In addition to this update, Google is also enhancing the Studio tab in NotebookLM. The tab is seeing a visual refresh, where users will be able to save multiple iterations of the content they create all in one place. Four buttons to create, located at the top of the Studio tab
- Audio Overviews
- Video Overviews
- Mind Maps
- Reports
The new Studio also comes with simultaneous submissions support. For instance, while going through a Mind Map or a study guide, users can listen to an Audio Overview.
In recent months, Google has been regularly releasing updates for NotebookLM. In May, it launched the official app and last week, it released Featured Notebooks covering topics including Shakespeare facilitating users to experiment with the service immediately, without uploading personal files.
Google also says more is coming soon for Video Overviews including additional languages and more advanced visuals. Audio Overviews already support more than 50 languages.
This newly rolling out feature is a very cool move by Google to facilitate students for learning with the help of AI-enabled tools.
