u/CrimsonGlyph

This is pretty wild for podcasters, and for people who listen to them, so I wanted to share this with this community. This could be very bad for podcasts in the long run, or it will die off and people will simply prefer "actual" podcasts.

Google's "NotebookLM" is a tool that can take files, websites, links, or text and turn it into a number of different things.

It can give you audio overviews, slideshows, videos, flow charts, flash cards, quizzes infographics, data tables, etc. based on the sources you've provided.

The "audio overviews" is what I want to talk about. It will give me podcast-style audio based on whatever sources I give it. For example, if I give it a Wikipedia page for the Leaning Tower of Pisa, it will literally create a podcast (of the length you choose) that features a host and a co-host summarizing the source I gave it.

It's still early on, but I've heard it do some "umm"s and "like"s where it feels somewhat natural at times, but it does overall miss the mark. It is actually great if you're looking to get a good summary of something you don't have time to read, and would rather just listen to someone talk about a topic.

There is also a feature that allows you to literally speak to the host and co-host while you're listening, and you can ask it questions or whatever you want it to elaborate on, making it a 100% custom tailored to you podcast. That's a scary thing to see start to come to reality.

A fully personalized podcast being generated based on what you want to know about and can interact with in real time is an insane concept, but one that Google now has the possibility of pushing.

I'm sure if the trend ever caught on, the best LLM available at the time would be able to take over this feature, but this is the first one I've seen so far. I have not tested the interactive features, but it has given me a few entertaining episodes on topics I have provided.

I am in no way in favor of this happening, I'm just super interested in the technology and how quickly it is moving. This isn't an ad either, I definitely don't want it to go this way.

Something to think about as podcasters; How do you ultimately compete with something like this besides a live podcast? Even then, you have to respond to a chat or caller rather than actually being able to personally answer every individual user's questions.

TL;DR: You can generate podcasts on any topic now, and even ask the AI hosts questions in real time.

I posted this to the main Starfield sub, but I figured you guys would like this as well. Answers will be at the bottom covered by spoiler tags. Be honest, how many did you get right?

(Sorry about the formatting. Reddit is terrible on the app)

1. Which individual is credited with completing the first prototype Grav Drive at NASA in 2138?

A. Sebastian Banks

B. Jinan Va'ruun

C. Solomon Coe

D. Dr. Victor Aiza

2. What event served as the immediate catalyst for the Narion War in 2196?

A. The refusal of the UC to remove 'The Clinic' starstation

B. The disappearance of the colony ship Archimedes

C. The signing of the Centaurus Proclamation

D. The establishment of a farming colony on Vesta

3. Which two star systems formed an alliance in 2189 to establish the Freestar Collective?

A. Sol and Cheyenne

B. Alpha Centauri and Narion

C. Kavnyk and Lunara

D. Cheyenne and Volii

4. What was the primary reason for the formation of the UC Vanguard in 2315?

A. To hunt down members of the Va'ruun Zealots

B. To explore the uncharted Kavnyk system

C. To enforce the ban on mech technology

D. To mimic the success of civilian ships in the Colony War

5. In the timeline of House Va'ruun, what significant change occurred after Jarek Va'ruun took control in 2263?

A. The beginning of the Serpent's Crusade

B. The initiation of the secret 'unorthodox' grav drive research

C. The end of the Serpent's Crusade

D. The establishment of Dazra as the capital city

6. Which technologies were explicitly banned by the Armistice Agreement signed in 2311?

A. Grav Drives and Faster-than-light jumps

B. Xenowarfare and Mech technology

C. Deep space scanners and Starstations

D. Chronmarks and AI technology

7. Which of the following describes the relationship between Jarek and Jandar Va'ruun?

A. They were rival leaders from House Ma'leen and House Ka'dic

B. They were the primary negotiators of the Treaty of Narion

C. They were father and son who founded House Va'ruun together

D. They were twin brothers with opposing views on isolation

8. What is the historical significance of the year 2203 in the timeline?

A. Earth becomes uninhabitable

B. The founding of New Atlantis

C. The first manned faster-than-light jump

D. The establishment of the Freestar Rangers

9. Who was the primary financial backer of Constellation, joining the group in 2321?

A. Walter Stroud

B. Matteo Khatri

C. Vladimir Sall

D. Sarah Morgan

10. According to the timeline, when did Constellation recover the first Artifact that would eventually lead to the events of 2330?

A. 2328

B. 2310

C. 2326

D. 2275

Answers:

>!1) D!<

>!2) A!<

>!3) D!<

>!4) D!<

>!5) C!<

>!6) B!<

>!7) D!<

>!8) A!<

>!9) A!<

>!10) B!<

I'm just now watching it, and I don't know if it's the feed I have, but I can literally hear production telling the commentators when they're live, when it's okay to react, and when they're clear to talk after promos.

Did anyone else hear this? Why is that the case? It clearly should not be heard by the audience.