Google NotebookLM Adds “Customize” Button for AI Audio Overviews

Google has introduced a major update to NotebookLM, its AI-powered note-taking platform, allowing users to guide AI-generated audio summaries with the new “Customize” button. This enhancement builds on the previously launched Audio Overview feature, providing more control over how AI generates podcast-style summaries.

The Audio Overview, initially released for testing on September 11, creates a realistic, 10-minute conversation between two AI hosts powered by Google’s Gemini 1.5 model. These conversations, dubbed “Deep Dive” discussions, have quickly gained attention in the tech industry for their ability to transform uploaded content into engaging audio summaries.

Expanding NotebookLM’s Capabilities

Soon after the Audio Overview feature launched, Google rolled out a series of updates for NotebookLM. By late September, the tool began supporting YouTube URLs and audio files, allowing users to summarize multimedia content, not just text. This change enables NotebookLM to create AI-generated discussions around films, podcasts, or other audio/video materials, greatly expanding its usefulness for both personal and professional workflows.

Before this update, users had no direct control over the focus of the AI hosts. While Gemini 1.5 could convert text, audio, or video into lifelike dialogues, the AI dictated the conversation topics based on the uploaded content. Many users requested more influence over how the AI handled specific subjects, according to Raiza Martin, product lead for Google NotebookLM, as reported by Business Insider.

Introducing the “Customize” Button

The latest update addresses these requests with the “Customize” feature, which allows users to provide guidance before generating a Deep Dive Audio Overview. Users can now suggest:

• The level of expertise to be conveyed in the discussion, ensuring the audio is suitable for beginners, intermediate users, or experts.

• Specific topics to emphasize, helping the AI hosts focus on key points from the source content.

• Other instructions to tailor the tone or structure of the conversation, making summaries more relevant and aligned with user needs.

Once users enter their preferences, NotebookLM generates a dialogue between the two AI hosts that reflects these instructions. The result is an audio overview that mirrors the uploaded sources while highlighting the areas the user cares about most.

How to Use the Customize Feature

Using NotebookLM’s new feature is straightforward:

1. Create a new notebook in NotebookLM.

2. Upload at least one source — this can be a text document, YouTube video, or audio file.

3. Select “Notebook guide”, then click the “Customize” button.

4. Enter instructions for the AI hosts, specifying topics to emphasize, the level of detail, or other preferences.

5. Generate the Deep Dive Audio Overview, which will create a podcast-style conversation that reflects both the source material and your guidance.

6. Users can listen to the audio directly within NotebookLM.

Google emphasizes that these audio overviews are not designed to be comprehensive or entirely objective. Instead, they are reflections of the sources uploaded and the user’s instructions, providing an efficient way to digest and understand large amounts of content.

Early Access and Enterprise Features

NotebookLM has also introduced a trial program for early access to its paid enterprise edition. This version promises enhanced functionality, catering to business and professional users who need more robust AI note-taking capabilities. Google plans to release additional details on pricing and access later this year.

The enterprise edition is expected to include features such as:

• Advanced integration with corporate content libraries

• Increased customization options for AI-generated audio and text

• Expanded support for multimedia content types

• Priority updates and support for organizations using NotebookLM at scale

NotebookLM’s Growing Popularity

NotebookLM is approaching its one-year anniversary of full availability and has shed its “Experimental” label. Millions of users are now taking advantage of the platform for both personal and professional productivity. The addition of the Customize button marks a significant step forward, allowing users more control and flexibility in how AI interacts with their content.

The Deep Dive Audio Overviews have been particularly popular among professionals and educators who want to digest complex content quickly or generate a podcast-style summary without extensive manual effort. The ability to guide the AI hosts ensures that summaries are not just generic but aligned with specific user needs.

Why This Update Matters

The customization feature highlights several trends in AI productivity tools:

1. User-Guided AI: Users increasingly want AI systems that are collaborative rather than fully autonomous, allowing them to steer the AI’s output according to their goals.

2. Multimedia Integration: Supporting YouTube links and audio files recognizes that valuable content exists beyond text. AI tools must adapt to handle video and audio efficiently.

3. Professional Application: Enterprises can leverage AI-generated overviews for training, research, and client briefings, saving time and resources.

4. Enhanced Learning Experiences: Educators and students can use customized Deep Dive discussions to focus on specific topics or difficulty levels, improving comprehension and engagement.

The Future of NotebookLM

As Google continues to develop NotebookLM, users can expect even more powerful features and integration. Possible future updates may include:

• Broader support for other multimedia sources, such as podcasts, webinars, or interactive content

• AI-driven summarization in multiple languages, increasing accessibility for global users

• Improved AI dialogue generation, making the Deep Dive conversations even more natural and engaging

• Integration with other Google Workspace tools, enhancing productivity and collaboration

The combination of AI-generated audio, user customization, and multimedia support positions NotebookLM as a leading platform in the AI note-taking space, helping professionals, students, and content creators save time while maintaining control over the output.

Conclusion

Google’s NotebookLM is evolving rapidly. The introduction of the Customize button for Deep Dive Audio Overviews allows users to guide AI-generated conversations according to their preferences, making the summaries more relevant, precise, and useful.

With support for YouTube and audio files, NotebookLM now offers a powerful tool for digesting multimedia content. Coupled with early access to an enterprise edition and millions of active users, NotebookLM is becoming an essential productivity tool for professionals, students, and businesses.

As AI-driven note-taking continues to grow, NotebookLM’s combination of Gemini 1.5 technology, audio summaries, and user-guided customization sets a new standard for how we interact with digital content.