Brady is a technology journalist for MakeUseOf with years of experience covering all things mobile, computing, and general tech. He has a focus on Android phones and audio gear, and holds a B.S. in Journalism from St. John's University.
Brady has written for publications like Android Central, Android Authority, XDA, Android Police, iMore, and others. He has experience reporting on major events held by Google, Apple, and Samsung, as well as trade shows like Lenovo Innovation World and IFA.
When he's not writing about and testing the latest gadgets, you'll find Brady watching Big East basketball and running.
When I first tried NotebookLM, the AI-powered learning tool was merely a Google Labs experiment. Since then, NotebookLM has grown to become a leading research site, becoming one of the few Labs experiments to earn a dedicated mobile app. NotebookLM is widely available on iOS, Android, and the web, but its feature set is also rapidly expanding. Following the success of Audio Overviews, Google added Video Overviews to the NotebookLM web app.
Audio and Video Overviews in NotebookLM are essentially AI-generated podcasts and instructional videos based on a topic of your choosing. You won't realize how helpful it is to have a personal podcast or video host guide your learning until you try it.
Audio Overviews are like on-demand educational podcasts Great for learning while walking, driving, or riding on the bus or train
NotebookLM might sound like a note-taking companion, and it does allow users to take written notes or upload existing notes in a variety of file formats. However, the app is more about analyzing and parsing information using Gemini models rather than trying to replace your notebook.
NotebookLM is built on Sources, which are files, websites, YouTube videos, or pasted text that provide the notebook's context. This context is used to power NotebookLM's interactive features, which include a chatbot and more advanced options like Audio and Video Overviews. For example, you might take notes in class with a Google Doc. Your NotebookLM notebook will probably include your notes, but ideally, it also features the PDF of your thousand-page textbook, assigned reading on the web, or relevant YouTube videos.
All of these sources provide NotebookLM with more context specific to your exact learning needs, whether you're trying to pick up a new skill or are trying to master a structured course. After you have sources, it's time to turn to the Studio section of the NotebookLM app. This is where you can start generating an Audio Overview. These podcast-style chats are incredibly customizable, and that's the best part.
Creating an Audio Overview starts by picking a format -- you have Deep Dive, Brief, Critique, or Debate as available options. If you want your podcast to sound like a testy sports talk show, choose Debate; if you want an expert who will challenge your source material, go with Critique. Customize the podcast's language and length next based on your preferences. The fine-tuned customization options help anyone make an Audio Overview that's engaging and purpose-built to match their learning style.
My favorite thing about NotebookLM is that you can guide the podcast hosts in the exact direction you'd like. With a short prompt, you can describe exactly what you want your Audio Overview to discuss. For example, you might want to tell NotebookLM to ignore sources you're already familiar with or focus on the source that'll be in your next exam. Prompts can be more granular than that, specifying an individual topic in a source or one that's referenced throughout multiple sources.
After a short generation period, your Audio Overview is ready for a listen. It's a bit uncanny how natural these conversations sound, with the AI hosts taking natural pauses, using filler words, and even sounding shy at certain points. Once you get past the weird factor, you'll realize the human-like nature of Audio Overviews is exactly what makes them great. Learning a new skill or studying for a final suddenly doesn't feel like a chore -- it's just like listening to a true-crime podcast or an entertaining radio show.
Video Overviews narrate slides, graphics, and more It's an excellent tool for visual learners to see more about a topic
NotebookLM added Video Overview support in July 2025, and it's still limited to the NotebookLM web app. The feature is good enough that it's worth using NotebookLM in your smartphone's browser or pulling out a laptop. Everything we've discussed about NotebookLM's Audio Overviews also applies to Video Overviews. Think of the latter as an audio overview with visual elements, like a slideshow incorporating images, diagrams, quotes, and other details from your sources.
It's excellent for complex topics that may be hard to visualize with audio explanations alone. I used Video Overviews to learn more about my record player setup and possible upgrade paths, and the illustrated graphics were a game-changer. In the screenshot below, you'll see how NotebookLM's Video Overview shows that my record player's cartridge is compatible with multiple high-end styluses.
Like with Audio Overviews, there are a few ways to customize a Video Overview. You can choose either an Explainer or Brief format, a language, and a visual style. There's a prompting box that lets users guide a Video Overview in the same way as an Audio Overview. You can guide the visuals specifically in addition to referring NotebookLM to a source or structure.
Here's a demo of how Video Overviews work in action:
Video Overviews are particularly excellent for niche topics that might not be well-covered on YouTube or other platforms. NotebookLM's generative AI content shouldn't be a replacement for your favorite podcasters and video creators. Instead, Audio and Video Overviews work well for content that isn't available in audio or video format -- like a decade-old Reddit thread or a little-known research paper.
A game-changer for visual learners Everyone should give Audio and Video Overviews a try
I see Audio and Video Overviews as a solution for people who don't find traditional educational content engaging. It might be tricky to stay attentive while reading a monotonous textbook, but when an Audio Overview turns the material into a debate show, the story is entirely different. Audio Overviews are also a standout companion for situations when pulling out a notebook or laptop is impossible or impractical. For example, you can't juggle flashcards while driving, but you can listen to an Audio Overview.
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If you haven't tried Audio and Video Overviews in NotebookLM, both features are worth your time. They're helpful, accurate, and customizable, and they've changed the way I learn new material.