1 00:00:02,200 --> 00:00:09,166 Okay, so have you heard about this new AI tool, NotebookLM, fro 2 00:00:02,200 --> 00:00:11,198 Google? Apparently you can make a 3 00:00:02,200 --> 00:00:13,422 whole podcast, like with two hosts 4 00:00:02,200 --> 00:00:14,486 in just a few hours. 5 00:00:14,558 --> 00:00:17,262 Wow. So not just like generating show notes or something? 6 00:00:17,326 --> 00:00:22,222 No, like a full on audio experience with distinct AI personalities 7 00:00:17,326 --> 00:00:23,998 and everything. Kind of wild, right? 8 00:00:24,054 --> 00:00:26,334 It is pretty wild when you think about it. It's like, what does 9 00:00:24,054 --> 00:00:27,942 it even mean to be a host in the 10 00:00:24,054 --> 00:00:29,326 age of AI, right? 11 00:00:29,398 --> 00:00:31,862 And it's not just theoretical either. This article I was reading, 12 00:00:29,398 --> 00:00:33,646 the author actually used notebook LM 13 00:00:29,398 --> 00:00:35,838 to make a whole podcast called be 14 00:00:29,398 --> 00:00:36,798 a better podcaster. 15 00:00:36,894 --> 00:00:40,582 Oh, wow, talk about meta. A podcast about podcasting made by 16 00:00:36,894 --> 00:00:41,830 a podcasting AI. 17 00:00:41,910 --> 00:00:45,598 Exactly. It's like this weird AI inception thing, but it kind of 18 00:00:41,910 --> 00:00:46,566 makes you think this could really 19 00:00:41,910 --> 00:00:48,006 shake things up in the podcasting 20 00:00:41,910 --> 00:00:48,422 world. 21 00:00:48,526 --> 00:00:52,582 For sure. I mean, not everyone has a fancy studio or knows how to 22 00:00:48,526 --> 00:00:54,718 use all the editing software. This 23 00:00:48,526 --> 00:00:56,214 could be huge for people who want 24 00:00:48,526 --> 00:00:57,582 to share their stories but find the 25 00:00:48,526 --> 00:00:59,434 whole podcasting thing intimidating, 26 00:00:48,526 --> 00:01:01,122 like a total game changer. 27 00:01:01,226 --> 00:01:04,498 But how does it even work? You just like feed it information and 28 00:01:01,226 --> 00:01:05,954 it spits out a podcast. 29 00:01:06,122 --> 00:01:09,098 Pretty much. Say you find a really interesting article and you 30 00:01:06,122 --> 00:01:11,194 think this would make a great conversation, 31 00:01:06,122 --> 00:01:12,402 which, let's be honest, is. 32 00:01:12,426 --> 00:01:14,866 How I get ideas for about half of our deep dives. 33 00:01:14,938 --> 00:01:18,026 Well, there you go. So you upload the article to notebook LM, 34 00:01:14,938 --> 00:01:20,786 select the audio interview option, 35 00:01:14,938 --> 00:01:23,922 and boom. The AI takes over and creates 36 00:01:14,938 --> 00:01:25,586 a whole conversation based on that 37 00:01:14,938 --> 00:01:26,098 content. 38 00:01:26,234 --> 00:01:30,554 No more spending hours editing out my rambling tangents. I'm sold. 39 00:01:26,234 --> 00:01:33,090 But really, how realistic does it 40 00:01:26,234 --> 00:01:34,810 actually sound? Like? Would people 41 00:01:26,234 --> 00:01:37,242 actually believe it's two real people 42 00:01:26,234 --> 00:01:38,386 having a conversation? 43 00:01:38,498 --> 00:01:41,298 Well, according to the article, it's surprisingly convincing. 44 00:01:38,498 --> 00:01:43,562 You know, AI speech synthesis has come 45 00:01:38,498 --> 00:01:45,522 a long way even in the last couple 46 00:01:38,498 --> 00:01:46,090 of years. 47 00:01:46,170 --> 00:01:49,290 True, Siri doesn't sound quite as robotic as she used to. 48 00:01:49,370 --> 00:01:53,490 Exactly. And apparently notebook LM is even better. It tries 49 00:01:49,370 --> 00:01:55,554 to capture those nuances of human 50 00:01:49,370 --> 00:01:57,506 conversation, like intonation and 51 00:01:49,370 --> 00:01:59,662 pacing. Although the article did 52 00:01:49,370 --> 00:02:01,998 say its not 100% perfect just yet. 53 00:02:02,094 --> 00:02:04,886 Yeah, the author mentioned a few times where the pauses between 54 00:02:02,094 --> 00:02:07,630 words were a little off, or the inflection 55 00:02:02,094 --> 00:02:09,846 sounded a bit robotic. I guess were 56 00:02:02,094 --> 00:02:11,510 not quite at the point where AI can 57 00:02:02,094 --> 00:02:13,310 perfectly replicate the human voice. 58 00:02:13,390 --> 00:02:16,982 Not yet, anyway. But even with a few imperfections, the potential 59 00:02:13,390 --> 00:02:19,518 here is huge. Think about it. You could 60 00:02:13,390 --> 00:02:21,166 have AI generate different versions 61 00:02:13,390 --> 00:02:23,094 of your podcast in different languages 62 00:02:13,390 --> 00:02:25,126 or tailored to different audiences. 63 00:02:25,238 --> 00:02:28,966 That's actually amazing. Talk about expanding your reach. But it 64 00:02:25,238 --> 00:02:32,078 still seems like the human touch 65 00:02:25,238 --> 00:02:34,014 is important, you know, coming up with 66 00:02:25,238 --> 00:02:36,198 the initial concept, giving the AI 67 00:02:25,238 --> 00:02:37,846 direction, and actually promoting 68 00:02:25,238 --> 00:02:38,502 the podcast. 69 00:02:38,566 --> 00:02:41,470 Oh, absolutely. This isn't about replacing human creativity, 70 00:02:38,566 --> 00:02:43,758 it's about augmenting it. Like giving 71 00:02:38,566 --> 00:02:45,486 creators a powerful new tool to work 72 00:02:38,566 --> 00:02:45,830 with. 73 00:02:45,910 --> 00:02:49,006 It's like AI can handle the technical side of things, so we're 74 00:02:45,910 --> 00:02:50,550 free to focus on the creative side. 75 00:02:50,630 --> 00:02:54,518 Exactly. It's about working smarter, not harder. And who knows 76 00:02:50,630 --> 00:02:56,598 what amazing new ideas and formats 77 00:02:50,630 --> 00:02:58,534 we'll come up with when we have AI 78 00:02:50,630 --> 00:02:59,910 to help us bring them to life. 79 00:02:59,990 --> 00:03:02,702 So instead of thinking of AI as a threat, we should be thinking 80 00:02:59,990 --> 00:03:03,966 of it as an opportunity. 81 00:03:04,078 --> 00:03:07,782 Precisely. An opportunity to push our own creativity further. 82 00:03:07,926 --> 00:03:10,742 Speaking of pushing boundaries, this whole thing got 83 00:03:07,926 --> 00:03:13,350 me thinking about authenticity. Like, 84 00:03:07,926 --> 00:03:16,158 what makes a podcast great? Is it 85 00:03:07,926 --> 00:03:18,678 the perfectly edited sound, or is 86 00:03:07,926 --> 00:03:20,702 it that raw human connection you 87 00:03:07,926 --> 00:03:23,328 get when you're listening to a conversation? 88 00:03:23,424 --> 00:03:25,880 Right? And that's something I'm really grappling with, because 89 00:03:23,424 --> 00:03:27,856 if the hosts aren't even human, can 90 00:03:23,424 --> 00:03:29,560 you really have that same level of 91 00:03:23,424 --> 00:03:30,752 connection with the audience? 92 00:03:30,856 --> 00:03:34,176 That's a great question, and one that I'm not sure even the AI 93 00:03:30,856 --> 00:03:36,192 has an answer to yet. 94 00:03:36,296 --> 00:03:39,544 It really makes you wonder, where do we draw the line? Like, 95 00:03:36,296 --> 00:03:41,496 will we get to a point where podcasts 96 00:03:36,296 --> 00:03:44,160 are so polished, so perfectly produced, 97 00:03:36,296 --> 00:03:46,808 that they lose that raw human element? 98 00:03:46,864 --> 00:03:49,000 It's like, what's that saying? Too much of a good thing? 99 00:03:49,080 --> 00:03:52,756 Exactly. You know, I think back to when I first started podcasting, 100 00:03:49,080 --> 00:03:54,804 I was so focused on trying to sound 101 00:03:49,080 --> 00:03:56,140 professional, you know, like those 102 00:03:49,080 --> 00:03:57,276 big time radio hosts. 103 00:03:57,308 --> 00:03:58,844 Oh, yeah, with the perfect diction and everything. 104 00:03:58,932 --> 00:04:03,476 Yeah, exactly. But I sounded so stiff and rehearsed, it was painful. 105 00:03:58,932 --> 00:04:06,012 It wasn't until I just relaxed, let 106 00:03:58,932 --> 00:04:07,620 my guard down a little, that people 107 00:03:58,932 --> 00:04:09,172 really started responding to the 108 00:03:58,932 --> 00:04:09,788 podcast. 109 00:04:09,884 --> 00:04:13,188 So it was those imperfections, those little glimpses of your personality, 110 00:04:09,884 --> 00:04:14,444 that made people connect. 111 00:04:14,532 --> 00:04:17,228 Exactly. And that's what I worry about with all this AI stuff, 112 00:04:14,532 --> 00:04:17,988 that we'll lose. 113 00:04:18,044 --> 00:04:20,396 That human element, that spark of authenticity. 114 00:04:20,468 --> 00:04:24,374 Exactly. It's like AI can help us create amazing sounding podcasts, 115 00:04:20,468 --> 00:04:26,234 but it can't replace the human heart 116 00:04:20,468 --> 00:04:27,442 at the center of it all. 117 00:04:27,546 --> 00:04:31,618 So then how do we find that balance? How do we embrace these 118 00:04:27,546 --> 00:04:35,474 new AI tools without losing what makes 119 00:04:27,546 --> 00:04:36,786 podcasting special? 120 00:04:36,898 --> 00:04:39,330 That's the million dollar question, isn't it? I don't know 121 00:04:36,898 --> 00:04:41,202 if there's an easy answer, but I do 122 00:04:36,898 --> 00:04:42,682 think it starts with being really 123 00:04:36,898 --> 00:04:44,658 intentional about why we're using 124 00:04:36,898 --> 00:04:45,762 AI in the first place. 125 00:04:45,826 --> 00:04:47,282 Like, what's the goal, right? 126 00:04:47,386 --> 00:04:50,618 Is it just to make things easier, faster, cheaper? Or are we 127 00:04:47,386 --> 00:04:53,486 using AI to actually enhance our 128 00:04:47,386 --> 00:04:55,462 creativity, to tell better stories, 129 00:04:47,386 --> 00:04:57,310 to connect with our audience on a deeper 130 00:04:47,386 --> 00:04:57,670 level. 131 00:04:57,750 --> 00:05:01,518 Because a hammer can build a house or it can break stuff, it all 132 00:04:57,750 --> 00:05:02,822 depends on the person using it. 133 00:05:02,886 --> 00:05:06,022 Exactly. And with AI, the stakes are even higher. I mean, we're 134 00:05:02,886 --> 00:05:07,614 talking about a technology that can 135 00:05:02,886 --> 00:05:10,718 mimic or even surpass human intelligence. 136 00:05:02,886 --> 00:05:12,486 We have to be careful with how we use 137 00:05:02,886 --> 00:05:12,806 it. 138 00:05:12,878 --> 00:05:16,010 Which leads to another question. What about the listeners? 139 00:05:12,878 --> 00:05:17,902 How are they going to react to all of 140 00:05:12,878 --> 00:05:19,246 this? Like, do people even want to 141 00:05:12,878 --> 00:05:21,782 listen to AI generated podcasts? 142 00:05:21,846 --> 00:05:25,186 Right? Are listeners going to be okay with this, man, the real 143 00:05:21,846 --> 00:05:25,578 deal. 144 00:05:25,674 --> 00:05:29,946 And if we do start using AI in podcasting, shouldn't we be upfront 145 00:05:25,674 --> 00:05:31,106 about it? Like, should there be some 146 00:05:25,674 --> 00:05:32,186 kind of disclaimer? 147 00:05:32,298 --> 00:05:35,274 Transparency is definitely important. Just like with any other 148 00:05:32,298 --> 00:05:37,538 aspect of podcasting. If you're using 149 00:05:32,298 --> 00:05:39,090 AI to help you create your show, 150 00:05:32,298 --> 00:05:41,202 tell your listeners they deserve to know. 151 00:05:41,266 --> 00:05:43,914 But where's the line? Like, are we going to start seeing warning 152 00:05:41,266 --> 00:05:46,698 labels on podcast apps? This podcast 153 00:05:41,266 --> 00:05:49,450 contains AI generated voices. Listener 154 00:05:41,266 --> 00:05:51,016 discretion is advised. 155 00:05:51,178 --> 00:05:54,332 It's tricky, right? We don't want to stifle innovation, but we 156 00:05:51,178 --> 00:05:56,300 also don't want to mislead anyone. 157 00:05:51,178 --> 00:05:58,084 This is uncharted territory. 158 00:05:58,172 --> 00:06:01,196 Who knows? Maybe podcast apps will start categorizing podcasts 159 00:05:58,172 --> 00:06:03,484 based on how much AI was used in the making 160 00:05:58,172 --> 00:06:03,980 of them. 161 00:06:04,060 --> 00:06:07,324 It's possible. I mean, we're already seeing AI being used for 162 00:06:04,060 --> 00:06:09,244 things like content recommendations 163 00:06:04,060 --> 00:06:11,516 and targeted advertising. It wouldn't 164 00:06:04,060 --> 00:06:13,100 surprise me if it eventually spills 165 00:06:04,060 --> 00:06:15,132 over into how podcasts are categorized 166 00:06:04,060 --> 00:06:16,316 and presented to listeners. 167 00:06:16,348 --> 00:06:17,446 There's a lot to think about. 168 00:06:17,548 --> 00:06:20,538 It is. And then there's the whole question of how AI will impact 169 00:06:17,548 --> 00:06:22,546 the podcasting industry as a whole. 170 00:06:22,658 --> 00:06:25,818 Right? Like, will this lead to more opportunities for creators? 171 00:06:22,658 --> 00:06:29,186 Or will AI end up replacing human podcasters 172 00:06:22,658 --> 00:06:29,818 altogether? 173 00:06:29,914 --> 00:06:33,330 Some people think we're headed for an AI powered podcasting boom. 174 00:06:29,914 --> 00:06:35,666 Lower barriers to entry, more diverse 175 00:06:29,914 --> 00:06:37,642 voices, endless possibilities. 176 00:06:37,786 --> 00:06:41,018 And others are worried about job losses, the devaluation of human 177 00:06:37,786 --> 00:06:42,562 creativity, that kind of thing. 178 00:06:42,666 --> 00:06:46,574 It's definitely a time of great change and uncertainty. But 179 00:06:42,666 --> 00:06:48,014 if there's one thing I know for sure, 180 00:06:42,666 --> 00:06:50,302 it's that AI isn't going away. 181 00:06:50,406 --> 00:06:51,470 It's here to stay. 182 00:06:51,630 --> 00:06:55,158 Exactly. And like it or not, it's going to continue to shape the 183 00:06:51,630 --> 00:06:57,158 way we create, consume, and even 184 00:06:51,630 --> 00:06:58,310 think about podcasts. 185 00:06:58,350 --> 00:07:00,638 Well, speaking of AI and podcasting, we haven't even gotten 186 00:06:58,350 --> 00:07:02,118 to the most meta part of the article 187 00:06:58,350 --> 00:07:02,438 yet. 188 00:07:02,494 --> 00:07:04,782 Oh, you mean the part where the author actually listens to the 189 00:07:02,494 --> 00:07:06,526 AI podcast and tells us if it's any 190 00:07:02,494 --> 00:07:06,942 good? 191 00:07:07,046 --> 00:07:09,278 Exactly. So what did they think? Was it any good? 192 00:07:09,334 --> 00:07:12,622 Well, according to their article, it was surprisingly convincing. 193 00:07:09,334 --> 00:07:14,942 The AI host, they actually discussed 194 00:07:09,334 --> 00:07:16,362 the main points of the article, like, 195 00:07:09,334 --> 00:07:17,882 in a natural back and forth way. 196 00:07:17,946 --> 00:07:20,058 Get out. So, like, you ask questions and everything. 197 00:07:20,114 --> 00:07:23,090 Questions, answers, even a little humor thrown in there. 198 00:07:23,170 --> 00:07:27,114 Hold on. Humor? Like the AI was making jokes. 199 00:07:27,202 --> 00:07:28,386 That's what the article said. 200 00:07:28,458 --> 00:07:32,178 I gotta know, was it actually funny? Or like that painful kind 201 00:07:28,458 --> 00:07:34,890 of AI humor that makes you wanna hide 202 00:07:28,458 --> 00:07:35,690 under a rock? 203 00:07:35,770 --> 00:07:38,946 The article didn't really go into detail about the AI's comedic 204 00:07:35,770 --> 00:07:41,578 timing, but it did say that overall, 205 00:07:35,770 --> 00:07:43,706 it was really engaging to listen to, 206 00:07:35,770 --> 00:07:45,906 even with a few rough edges here 207 00:07:35,770 --> 00:07:48,654 and there. Like, the pauses weren't perfect, 208 00:07:35,770 --> 00:07:48,990 right? 209 00:07:49,030 --> 00:07:50,286 That robotic cadence. 210 00:07:50,358 --> 00:07:51,310 Yeah, exactly. 211 00:07:51,390 --> 00:07:54,398 But still, it's pretty mind blowing creating a whole podcast 212 00:07:51,390 --> 00:07:56,734 episode with AI in a few hours. I 213 00:07:51,390 --> 00:07:57,390 mean, come on. 214 00:07:57,470 --> 00:08:00,614 It's a game changer for sure. Especially for people who are just 215 00:07:57,470 --> 00:08:02,862 starting out with podcasting or anyone 216 00:07:57,470 --> 00:08:04,486 who doesn't have a ton of time or 217 00:07:57,470 --> 00:08:05,046 resources. 218 00:08:05,118 --> 00:08:07,182 Right? It could really open doors for a lot of people. 219 00:08:07,286 --> 00:08:11,918 Exactly. Imagine being able to just get your ideas out there in 220 00:08:07,286 --> 00:08:13,990 this really polished and engaging 221 00:08:07,286 --> 00:08:15,902 way. No need for expensive equipment or 222 00:08:07,286 --> 00:08:16,570 anything. 223 00:08:17,260 --> 00:08:19,516 The democratization of podcasting or something. 224 00:08:19,588 --> 00:08:22,540 Right. But then it also makes you wonder, like, what happens when 225 00:08:19,588 --> 00:08:23,964 everyone and their grandma can create 226 00:08:19,588 --> 00:08:25,612 a professional sounding podcast, 227 00:08:19,588 --> 00:08:25,876 right? 228 00:08:25,908 --> 00:08:28,876 Is that a good thing or a bad thing? More voices, more diversity 229 00:08:25,908 --> 00:08:30,972 of thought. That's great. But are we 230 00:08:25,908 --> 00:08:33,364 gonna end up drowning in a sea of 231 00:08:25,908 --> 00:08:33,860 content? 232 00:08:33,980 --> 00:08:37,236 It's hard to say. It's like opening pandora's box. In a way, 233 00:08:33,980 --> 00:08:39,020 we're sticking into this uncharted 234 00:08:33,980 --> 00:08:41,292 territory. It's both exciting and 235 00:08:33,980 --> 00:08:42,596 a little bit terrifying. 236 00:08:42,668 --> 00:08:47,112 No doubt. But one thing's for sure, this AI stuff is changing the 237 00:08:42,668 --> 00:08:47,560 game. 238 00:08:47,680 --> 00:08:50,584 Absolutely. And it's up to all of us to figure out how we're going 239 00:08:47,680 --> 00:08:52,344 to navigate this new landscape. 240 00:08:52,432 --> 00:08:54,928 So, to our listeners out there, what do you think? Are you 241 00:08:52,432 --> 00:08:57,232 ready for the age of AI podcasting? 242 00:08:57,336 --> 00:09:00,208 Let us know. Hit us up on social media. Send us an email. We 243 00:08:57,336 --> 00:09:01,336 want to hear your thoughts on this 244 00:08:57,336 --> 00:09:03,080 whole AI revolution. 245 00:09:03,200 --> 00:09:05,792 And hey, maybe you'll even hear your thoughts featured on a 246 00:09:03,200 --> 00:09:06,728 future deep dive. 247 00:09:06,784 --> 00:09:09,716 Who knows? Maybe we'll even let the AI chime in with its two 248 00:09:06,784 --> 00:09:10,164 cent. 249 00:09:10,252 --> 00:09:14,500 Until next time, keep exploring, keep creating, and keep 250 00:09:10,252 --> 00:09:14,820 listening.