NotebookLM: Audio Overviews Now Speak 50+ Languages
Google just took a big step forward with NotebookLM: Audio Overviews. The feature now supports over 50 languages, breaking free from its English-only roots. Whether you speak Italian, French, Spanish, German - or something else entirely - you can now hear AI-generated summaries of your documents in your native language.
This isn’t just a minor update. It’s a major leap for accessibility and inclusive learning around the world. With language no longer a barrier, more users than ever can benefit from voice-based summaries that help them learn, review, and stay informed - anytime, anywhere.
What Is Audio Overviews?
Audio Overviews is an AI feature that turns your documents into podcast-style conversations between two synthetic voices. Designed to sound natural, these voices discuss the content of your uploaded files - PDFs, presentations, pasted text, or links - and deliver a clear, concise spoken summary.
Instead of reading a long report or study guide, you can just listen. Whether you're commuting, walking the dog, or doing chores, you can turn downtime into productive learning time. It’s perfect for students, professionals, and anyone looking to absorb information more effortlessly.
How It Works - In a Nutshell
- Go to notebooklm.google
- Click the Settings icon in the top right corner
- Select Output Language from the menu
- Pick your preferred language
That’s it. From now on, your voice summaries will be generated in the language you selected. You can change it anytime - no complicated setup required.
Creating a Voice Summary
- Create or open a notebook
- Upload your sources (documents, text, links, etc.)
- Open the Notebook Guide in the sidebar
- Click “Generate” in the audio section
- Wait a few moments for the system to create the file
NotebookLM then delivers a conversation-style audio file that highlights key ideas from your sources. You can listen on any device, even in the background - great for on-the-go learning or quick reviews between tasks.
Advanced Features That Go the Extra Mile
Want more control over what you hear? Click Customize to guide the AI: choose the focus topic, adjust the tone, or change the level of detail in the summary. Whether you want a quick overview or a deep dive, it adapts to your needs.
You can also upload content in multiple languages within the same notebook. And if you want to share what you’ve generated, you can do so via a public link - ideal for students collaborating on projects, or teams sharing briefings and reports.
Still English-Only: Voice Interaction (for Now)
Some features are still English-only. One example is real-time voice interaction. This lets users ask questions and get instant responses while listening - transforming the summary into an interactive experience. It’s still in beta and currently only works in English, but it hints at where the platform is headed.
What About Voice Quality?
The voice quality in Italian is solid, but not perfect - yet. You might notice the occasional awkward pause or slightly robotic tone, especially in technical passages. Sometimes the accent sounds more like a fluent English speaker reading Italian.
Also, summaries in Italian (and other languages) tend to be shorter than those in English. That’s likely due to ongoing optimization. But here's the good news: the service is free, requires no subscription, and gets better with time.
Pro tip: well-structured content makes a big difference. The clearer your text, the smoother and more natural the output audio.
A Glimpse Into the Future of Learning
NotebookLM’s Audio Overviews are part of a bigger shift - one that turns reading into listening, making information more accessible across different moments of your day. It’s an early step toward personalized, conversational learning.
And it’s just the beginning. In a few years, you may be able to generate rich audio and video learning content on demand - with just a few clicks.
