... so... I thought I'd try a little experiment with NotebookLM's video overview...
I created a Notebook and then gave it the text of my post answering the Coffee Sniffers question. (From July 30, 2025)
After pouring it in, I asked for it to make a Video Overview that would summarize my post. Here's the result: (Link)
This is the kind of video I've wanted to make ever since this blog began. But as you know (and as I know all too well, having edited a LOT of videos over the years), making one of these video shorts takes a long, long time.
For those of you who've read the post, how does this compare with the text experience? Good? Better? Less satisfying? Did you take away anything new or more interesting from the video version?
I'm looking for feedback here. If you like it, I'll do more in future posts (and I'll talk about how much work this was--I admit to editing the raw video output from NotebookLM).
Let me know in the comments!
Hello Dr Russell!
ReplyDeleteI like the video a lot. It's helpful. It's different and always reading your answer will be better because it has links, your comments and it is like an extended version.
I like the Lessons from the search. And while watching, I was thinking maybe you can add all the lessons? And they are there. Not all but some.
I'm glad you added the link to the Challenge because with the video I'm sure people will want to read more.
I learned about the Reichsthaler that I didn't notice when reading the Answer version
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reichsthaler
I'd love that the video voice was yours. Who knows maybe in the future AI will allow that.
AI related. Yesterday I read that now you can upload audio files to Gemini. That can also be done on Notebooklm?
What can be achieved with audio files other than transcript? Can we use it to identify birds or animals? With that audio can ask to get the audio in another language?
I hope you do more like this one. And maybe more 1MM like you did in the past?
Thanks Dr. Russell
Thanks for the positive comment! I agree, the voice *sounds* like me, but it's actually the default voice. It's just an accident that it sounds like my voice.
DeleteLike you, I picked up something by listening to the video as well. Even though I WROTE the thing, somehow, hearing it makes different things more prominent. (And probably, others move to the background.)
Glad you enjoyed it.
After watching the video and wanting to know more about the fines
ReplyDelete[Reichsthaler Kaffeeriecher] and then translate to understand the results
Aus der Geschichte Warendorfs:
Als in Warendorf der Kaffeegenuss verboten war
von Wolfgang Reisner (1. 3. 2022)
https://www.heimatvereinwarendorf.de/geschichte/kaffeegenuss%20verboten%20-%2027-2-22.php
For some reason I couldn't translate to English. When I clicked translate it was translated to Spanish but I wanted to read it on English too.
I strongly prefer your written content, and content that you're making the choices about, rather than off-boarding those choices to an AI. I found the AI-generated voice distracting, and the "so absolutely wild" hyped-up short-form-video language feels patronizing.
ReplyDeleteThe text post is a story about you (you came across a factlet, and doubted it) and about your expertise (you used search techniques to chase down something closer to the truth). I can skim that post and pull out the bits of your experience that are most valuable to me.
The video centers on the weird fact more than the search, requires both listening and watching (the fact doesn't get said out loud before we're instructed to "think about that"), can't be skimmed, and erases you from the text entirely.
The idea of search doesn't even show up until the video is 80% over, and its presence is entirely unmotivated -- we're never presented with the search problem, only the answers.The premise of your blog ("try this search challenge and then we'll discuss our different approaches") is missing.
Glad to hear you like the written word.
DeleteI agree that the video is a very different kind of thing, emphasizing different facets of the story--things I might not have done. It's also uncontrollable--there's nothing I can do (at least in the current version) to craft or shape the created video. I'd love to have some fine-grain controls.
I too enjoyed it as a little change. I knew it was not you though. Try these again when you have a LOT ot time to put into them. (ha ha)
ReplyDeleteIt astonishes me how much time, money and effort despots fritter away in pointless projects like this.
jon
I think the auto-video (like the auto-podcast) generation is still in early days. As I said in reply to Sam, there just aren't any ways for me to modify the content. Looking forward to a day when it's actually under authorial control (as opposed to today's "fire and forget" model).
Deletehave to agree with Mr. Bleckley. While NoteBook LM is novel and no doubt impressive in function (and will only become more sophisticated and 'slick') at this point I'm not sure what the video feature brings to the table - did you try the audio? to see if it produced the same result for you? how about the "Mind Map"? for additional leads.
ReplyDeleteNo doubt, in the hands of a competent user, NoteBook LM could/will be a useful tool... or a 'tar ball'.??.
Did try a couple experiments... still evaluating. Used recent topics from you.: (maybe I should have made this comment into a video??)
Coffee Culture and Prussian Prohibition
https://notebooklm.google.com/notebook/4e48ccf2-f930-4852-8c1e-35aa0f7003e6?artifactId=fc232132-37a7-47f8-b998-b092877d86ba
Modern Cycloramas: Restoration and New Creations
https://notebooklm.google.com/notebook/8806f89a-45b2-4c14-b1ef-4e23ebbe386f?artifactId=072c5c78-199d-4931-a48e-1d9f91cc3cc6
would you listen/view either of these videos "cold"?
I think the visuals need to be significantly enhanced/improved to keep the random user engaged... (more like a slideshow presentation at this point) those are probably coming rapidly, but I am curious about things like "ownership", "copyright" and who can alter what?
Still, it is a good example of how AI is evolving.
I need some coffee - or beer - or something while I cogitate on how far behind I'm getting by the millisecond... "daunting" comes to mind. I wouldn't have tried the NoteBookLM features without you highlighting them - thanks! you're pushing me, kicking & screaming into the future.
I did not check the audio (I've done that before and found them useful... but I didn't want to take the time to do both). Mind Maps don't really work for me--they're basically outlines, and I already know the outline, so it's of minimal value.
DeleteBTW - I tried clicking on your Notebooks, but they're not public access. If you change the permissions, I'll try again.
Happy to drag everyone in the future!
apologies - see if these work, Notebook rookie mistake
Deletehttps://notebooklm.google.com/notebook/4e48ccf2-f930-4852-8c1e-35aa0f7003e6?artifactId=fc232132-37a7-47f8-b998-b092877d86ba
https://notebooklm.google.com/notebook/8806f89a-45b2-4c14-b1ef-4e23ebbe386f?artifactId=072c5c78-199d-4931-a48e-1d9f91cc3cc6
Nope... not yet.
Deletelast attempt - maybe I'm just inept, sorry for wasting your time... (does indicate the notebook is public... fwtw)
Deletehttps://notebooklm.google.com/notebook/4e48ccf2-f930-4852-8c1e-35aa0f7003e6?artifactId=fc232132-37a7-47f8-b998-b092877d86ba
https://notebooklm.google.com/notebook/8806f89a-45b2-4c14-b1ef-4e23ebbe386f?artifactId=072c5c78-199d-4931-a48e-1d9f91cc3cc6
This worked! Thanks.
Deleteone of the ongoing problems with LLMs like Gemini... lag in training sessions, quality control... -
ReplyDeleteSunday, Sept. 14th 2025 response to basic info inquiry... no easy fix - any thoughts?
"My information indicates that Charlie Kirk is alive and continues to be active publicly. There are no credible reports or news sources confirming an assassination or murder of Charlie Kirk.
It appears there may be a misunderstanding or incorrect information circulating. I recommend checking reliable news sources for the most accurate and up-to-date information."
https://support.google.com/gemini/thread/372520038/multiple-hallucinations-and-repeated-contradictions?hl=en
https://support.google.com/gemini/threads?hl=en&thread_filter=%28category%3Agemini_answ_qual%29&sjid=12539457690898449378-NC