Latent Space: The AI Engineer Podcast

How NotebookLM Was Made

233 snips
Oct 25, 2024
Raiza Martin, Lead PM for NotebookLM at Google Labs, and Usama Bin Shafqat, AI engineer on the same project, share their insights on creating engaging AI-driven audio experiences. They discuss the unique approach of making digital voices sound conversational, incorporating natural interjections and pauses. The duo highlights the importance of user feedback in shaping their innovative product and the challenges of balancing advanced AI capabilities with accessibility for everyday users. Their work aims to redefine how we interact with information through AI.
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ANECDOTE

NotebookLM Origin

  • Raiza Martin initially joined Google AI to work on AI Test Kitchen, a demo for LLMs.
  • Simultaneously, she explored building real products, leading to NotebookLM's creation.
INSIGHT

Summarization Demand

  • Early user research revealed a strong initial desire for summarization functionality in NotebookLM.
  • This led to its inclusion as a core feature alongside Q&A and key topic generation.
ANECDOTE

Japanese Adoption

  • NotebookLM saw unexpected popularity in Japan, with users appreciating its ability to translate English rules into Japanese.
  • This highlighted the tool's potential to bridge language barriers and cater to diverse learning styles.
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