Notebook LM: Creepy, Genius and Still Glitchy—The Future of AI Podcasts

Full disclosure: I don’t know what Notebook LM means. Notebook Learning Machine? Who knows—but it’s definitely intriguing. Google (the creator) calls it “The ultimate tool for understanding the information that matters most to you” and “Your Personalized AI Research Assistant.” Sure, okay. What I do know is that this tool is strangely fascinating—even if I’m still figuring out exactly what it’s supposed to do.

I discovered it on TikTok, and while most of its features are still a mystery to me, one stood out right away: the podcast generator.

Here’s how it works: You upload a document—say, a PDF—and give it a nudge on tone and content direction—that’s about all the input you get in its current form. Minutes later, Notebook LM spits out a fully produced “podcast,” complete with two AI-generated hosts. It’s like magic, but also kind of creepy.

Naturally, I had to try it. I uploaded a PDF of my Capabilities Profile—a document I use to introduce my services to prospective clients—and asked it to discuss my offerings in the context of today’s marketing and communications challenges. The AI hosts were bantering about BP Communications in under five minutes like it’s the next big thing!

And honestly? The result was shockingly good. The hosts sounded eerily real, with natural conversational flow, great cadence and all those little filler sounds like “mm-hmms” and “oohs.” It was so convincing I almost sent it to a client prospect. Almost.

The Good, the Bad and the WTF Moments

Let’s talk about the output. It’s about 97% spot-on—which sounds great—until you realize that the remaining 3% is totally unusable. Case in point: Notebook LM decided I’m a “Fractional CMO” because I mentioned that I work independently or join client teams during peak periods. The AI hosts also felt a little too giddy about this term, and the fact that a fractional CMO was part of my offering. While amusing, it’s not how I position myself, and there’s no way to fix it.

And then there are the quirks—the kind that make you wonder if the robots are trolling us. In one spot, one of the hosts spelled out “a-n-d” instead of just saying “and.” Why? Who knows. These weird little glitches wouldn’t matter if you could edit the output, but you can’t. What you hear is what you get. So, for now, the podcast generator is a great proof of concept. Impressive, but not quite ready for prime time.

Click image to listen. Opens new window.

Why I’m Still Excited

Despite its flaws, I can’t stop thinking about the potential here. For instance, one of my clients runs a national corporate scholarship program. Every year, we spend a ton of time answering applicant questions, offering tips and hosting webinars. With Notebook LM, we could generate a conversational podcast that covers everything students need to know, like:

• “How to nail your scholarship application.”

• “Top tips for standing out.”

• “Answers to FAQs we get asked every year.”

It’s easy, scalable and (if they fix the quirks) super polished.

Or think about employee onboarding. Instead of dumping 50 pages of PDFs on new hires, you could create a series of podcasts to introduce them to your company’s culture, policies and why Karen in Accounting is off-limits for office pranks. Delivered through an online portal, it’d be way more engaging than reading about your travel policy in 10-point Arial.

Verdict: Holding (New to the blog? My tomatometer is explained here.)

For now, Notebook LM’s podcast generator is in a holding pattern. Think of a jumbo jet on final approach, perfectly lined up to land, when suddenly there’s a warning light about hydraulics. The pilots circle, run the checklist and eventually touch down safely after sorting it out. That’s where Notebook LM is: a few bugs to squash, but the runway is in sight.

And let’s be real—the potential is HUGE. With a few tweaks (like the ability to edit), this tool could be a game-changer for creating engaging content in ways we haven’t even imagined yet. For now, the podcast functionality feels like a beta test with serious promise. I’ll be keeping an eye on it—and probably playing with it more than I should.

Ready to elevate your marketing and communications?

At BP Communications, I bring a creative approach that’s grounded in strategy and powered by the latest tools and techniques. Whether you’re navigating challenges, seizing opportunities or simply looking to stand out, I’m here to help you craft messages that resonate and deliver results. Let’s create something impactful—reach out today!

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