You Can Now Ask Questions During Google’s AI Podcasts

Google’s NotebookLM AI podcast tool recently got launched into the mainstream thanks to a collaboration with Spotify Wrapped, but after a recent update, it’s suddenly much more interactive. Now, instead of just sitting back and listening, you can actually join in on the conversation. 

According to Google, NotebookLM users have already generated “more than 350 years worth of Audio Overviews,” which essentially take uploaded documents and turn them into AI-hosted two-way conversations to help make them easier to digest. The idea is that you could submit a 50-page long research white paper, for example, and the podcast would give you a quick breakdown that you could listen to while doing other things.

Maybe it’s because Google uses the same voices for every audio overview, but in my experience, they usually sound eerily similar to a real back and forth, if not without some jank or robotic stiffness. That said, for a tool that’s supposed to make complicated topics easier to understand, it’s given users little control in how to guide its AI conversations—until now.

As part of a larger update that overhauls the user interface and adds some extra features for enterprise customers, Google is also now allowing you to join in on the AI podcasts. The feature, called Join, won’t let you directly converse with your AI hosts, but rather interrupt the podcast to ask a question and direct the conversation. For instance, if you’re listening to a breakdown of important dates in American history, but your hosts get distracted talking about state birds, you could stop them to get them back on track. Alternatively, you could simply ask them to go deeper on a particular topic, or reiterate something they’ve already covered.

The feature is currently rolling out in a beta, and unfortunately, I haven’t gotten my hands on it yet. If you’re luckier than me, Google says you can try it out through the following steps:

• Create a new Audio Overview

• Tap the new Interactive mode (BETA) button and hit play

• While listening, tap “Join,” A host will call on you.

• Ask your question!

The company has posted an example of the feature in action, and it seems like you’ll need to hit “join” for each question you’ve got. It really seems like Google is going for more of a Q&A format here, rather than treating you as a third host.

The result reminds me a bit of Gemini Live, which similarly lets you talk to Google’s AI in real-time, but has had some quirks regarding accuracy or understanding when I’ve tried using it in the past. It makes sense, then, that Google is iterating that the Join feature is “experimental,” and that hosts may “pause awkwardly before responding and may occasionally introduce inaccuracies.” Additionally, the feature will only work for new podcasts, so don’t expect to suddenly reinvent conversations you’ve already generated.