On Tuesday, Google unveiled an expansion of its Audio Overviews feature within NotebookLM, an innovative tool that leverages artificial intelligence (AI) to produce dynamic, podcast-like audio discussions on various topics when a source is included in user notes. The Audio Overviews feature showcases two unique AI voices—a male and a female—who engage in conversation, offering reactions and contextual insights on the subject matter. This feature is now being rolled out to support more than 50 different languages, according to the company.
NotebookLM’s Audio Overviews Now Supports Hindi
Initially launched in June 2024 as a research assistant, NotebookLM allows users to upload documents, web URLs, and text for processing. Utilizing these inputs, the platform generates a range of outputs including summaries, briefs, study guides, and frequently asked questions (FAQs). Additionally, a chatbot powered by Gemini is available to answer user inquiries related to the subject matter.
Although the platform’s utility was recognized, it did not attract widespread attention until September 2024, when Google introduced the Audio Overviews feature. This tool, which can convert any document into an audio podcast format, significantly boosted the platform’s popularity among users.
Previously limited to generating audio content solely in English, the Audio Overviews feature is now expanding its accessibility. In a blog post, Google confirmed that the AI functionality will be available in over 50 languages, including Afrikaans, Arabic, Bengali, Chinese (both Simplified and Traditional), French, Hindi, Malayalam, Portuguese, Russian, and Tamil.
To select a different output language, users must access the Settings menu and find the Output Language option. From there, they can easily change the language in the top-right corner of the interface. By default, the Output Language is set according to the user’s Google Account preferences.
Google cautioned that the non-English language support is currently in beta and may contain errors. Therefore, users are encouraged to verify the accuracy of the generated audio.
The tech giant emphasized that this new expansion has numerous practical applications. For instance, it will enable educators to share study resources with students in diverse languages, allowing for the generation of Audio Overviews that convey key insights in students’ preferred languages. Furthermore, content creators can utilize the tool to produce content in languages other than English.
