NotebookLM’s podcast magic comes to Google Drive, letting you turn your lengthy PDFs into audio summaries

We all have those files sitting in Google Drive: the 80-page industry report, the lengthy meeting transcript, or the dense contract you've been meaning to read. Running these files through ChatGPT or Gemini to create a high-level summary might seem like a good idea. But what if you could turn these documents into podcast-style audio clips? Well, that's exactly what Google's latest Gemini AI experiment is trying to accomplish. 

Google is rolling out "Audio Overviews" directly into Google Drive, a new Gemini-powered feature that makes it easier to absorb lengthy PDFs and documents on the go by turning them into bite-sized audio clips.

The feature, which borrows its tech from Google's highly popular research tool NotebookLM, is refreshingly simple. Open a PDF on the web, and you’ll see a new "Audio Overview" button in the top bar. Tapping it brings up the Gemini side panel, and after a few minutes of processing, you’ll get a two to 10-minute bite-sized audio file.

The audio file is automatically saved to a new “Audio overviews” folder in your Drive. You’ll even get an email notification when it’s ready, and you can then access it from your smartphone or PC. 

Google’s pitch is all about multitasking. The company says it will allow you to "absorb critical information" while you're commuting, working out, or doing chores. 

However, the new AI magic isn't for everyone. The feature is currently only available to paying Google Workspace users — Business Standard/Plus, Enterprise Standard/Plus—and subscribers to the Google One AI Pro plan. At launch, it only supports English-language PDFs.