NotebookLM AI: Convert PDFs into Podcasts using AI

Creating a podcast from a PDF by using AI may sound like science fiction, but it’s now a reality. In this guide, I’ll walk you through how you can upload any private documents or research articles, summarize them using AI, and even generate a podcast using human-like voices.

Imagine this: you upload a document or research article, get a summary almost instantly, and then ask any question related to that document.

The AI responds with answers, and not only that, it can generate a podcast based on the content you provided.

Yes, a full podcast generated entirely by AI in human voices!

Let’s dive into the process, starting with a demo of an AI-generated podcast.

---

AI-Generated Podcast Demo

Before we get into the steps, here’s a quick look at what an AI-generated podcast sounds like. Once the document is converted into audio, you can listen to it:

This is all done using AI-generated human voices, making the process seamless and the result professional.

---

Overview of Notebook LM by Google

Let me introduce you to Notebook LM from Google. This is an experimental AI tool designed to be your virtual research assistant.

Here’s what Notebook LM allows you to do:

1. Upload Documents:

Whether it’s a research paper or a private document, you can easily upload it into Notebook LM.

2. Ask Questions:

You can ask any questions related to the document. The AI provides detailed answers with citations.

3. Generate a Podcast:

Notebook LM can also convert the document into a podcast with human-like AI voices.

I’m going to show you the step-by-step process, but before we get into that, if you’re interested in podcast content like this, make sure to read our other blog posts.

What is Autopod and How Can It Help Podcast Editors?

---

How to Create a Podcast from PDF Using Notebook LM?

Step 1. Sign In to Notebook LM

The first step is to sign in to Notebook LM using your Google account. Once logged in, you’re ready to create a new notebook.

Step 2. Create a New Notebook

Inside Notebook LM, the next step is to create a new notebook. This is where your research documents will be uploaded and processed.

Step 3. Upload Your Sources

Now, it’s time to upload your documents. I uploaded a few research papers on various topics like Large Language Models (LLMs), Multimodal LLMs, and LLM Agents.

Once your documents are uploaded, Notebook LM begins generating a summary based on the content.

Uploaded Articles:

• Research article on LLMs
• Research article on Multimodal LLMs
• Research article on LLM Agents

The AI then generates a concise summary of these documents. You can now ask questions related to the uploaded content.

---

Step 4. Ask AI Questions Based on Uploaded Documents

Notebook LM provides suggested questions, but you can also ask your own.

I chose one of the suggested questions: “What are the key challenges and opportunities?”

The AI quickly analyzed the documents and provided a detailed response. It’s like having a research assistant who goes through your documents and gives you the right answer with citations.

---

Step 5. Generate a Podcast

Next, let’s get to the fun part: generating a podcast. Once the AI has analyzed your document and generated answers, you can turn it into an AI-powered podcast.

Here’s how:

1. Click on the “Notebook Guide” link.
2. A deep-dive conversation window will open where you can host an English-only discussion.
3. Click “Generate,” and in a matter of minutes, your podcast will be ready.

The podcast will have natural human voices, making it sound like a professional audio production.

Step 6. Play the AI-Generated Podcast

Now that the podcast is ready, let’s give it a listen.

“Alright everyone, welcome back! Today, we’re diving deep into the wild world of Large Language Models. You’ve heard the buzz, right?

These models can do everything from writing books to complex problem-solving. But today, we’re going to dig into how they really work, breaking down some dense research papers. Ready? Let’s go!”

This entire podcast was generated by AI, using the information from the documents we uploaded. It’s a fully automated process that only takes a few minutes.

---

Additional Features of Notebook LM

Aside from creating podcasts, Notebook LM offers additional features that make it even more powerful:

• Table of Contents: You can generate a table of contents for easy navigation through your research.
• Save Notes: Based on your questions, the AI allows you to save answers in the form of notes. This can be helpful for organizing and reviewing key points later on.

---

Conclusion

In just few minutes, you can upload a PDF, get a summary, ask questions, and generate a professional-sounding podcast using AI. It’s an incredible tool for anyone who works with large amounts of data, research articles, or documents. I’m really excited about the potential of Notebook LM and will be creating more articles to explore its capabilities further.