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NotebookLM's automatically generated podcasts are surprisingly effective

simonwillison.net

161–170 of 511 posts

Re: NotebookLM's automatically generated podcasts are surprisingly effective

#161
I just gave it straight up erotica from an old Usenet post. The results are hilarious.

I also tried the Flyting of Dunbar and Kennedy. It was actually well done. https://notebooklm.google.com/notebook/1d13e76e-eb4b-48ef-89...

Also just uploading msdos 1.25 asm https://github.com/microsoft/MS-DOS/tree/main/v1.25/source

It was way better than I though

I think the best is the self referential. This actual comment thread: https://notebooklm.google.com/notebook/4a67cf10-dd3b-42b3-b5...

Re: NotebookLM's automatically generated podcasts are surprisingly effective

#162

NotebookLM's is incredibly good at generating the affect and structure of a quality podcast. This is in-line with all art, music, and video created by LMM at the moment. They are imitating a structure and affect, the quality of the content is largely irrelevant. I think the interesting thing is that most people don't really care, and AI is not to blame for that. Most books published today have the affect of a book, b…

it is the perfect milquetoast personality. It's like don lemon but without the interesting bits of don lemon. It has no draw or interest.

Podcasts are only somewhat about things. The most important part is that they're by people, and the people is what draws people in. These ai podcasts are not by people, and when you listen to more than one you start to see the patterns and void where a personality is.

Re: NotebookLM's automatically generated podcasts are surprisingly effective

#163

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Different strokes for different folks... We all seek different kinds of quality; I don't find Peruns videos to have any quality except volume. He reads bullet points he has prepared, and makes predictable dad jokes in monotone, re-uses and reruns the same points, icons, slides, etc. Just personally, I find it really samey and some of the reporting has been delayed so much it's entirely detached from the ground by the…

I think the main problem with Peruns' videos are that they are videos. I run a little program on my home-lab that turns them into podcasts and I find that I enjoy them far more because I need to be less engaged with a podcast to still find them enjoyable. (Also, I gave up on being up to date with Ukraine situation, since up to date information is almost always wrong. I am happy to be a week or a 14 days behind if the…

I’d also like a podcast. I usually walk around with the video in my pocket to be honest. Audio is 80% of the value in his case.

Re: NotebookLM's automatically generated podcasts are surprisingly effective

#164
I can't help but think how much this will continue the 'enshittification' of the internet. The problem with this tech is that people will release these 'podcasts' and drown out all the human-made content that most people want to listen to. It's not that this tech is bad in itself or that it doesn't have uses, it's that we have no social feedback mechanism for getting people to stop producing this kind of content!

Re: NotebookLM's automatically generated podcasts are surprisingly effective

#165

I uploaded my detailed game design document for a project I've been working on in my free time and it was kind of a weird confidence boost. The two hosts seem to treat ideas like their the most insightful relevatory information they've ever heard. After a few uploads of other documents you start to notice the same overly surprised tone.

Must have been prompted to be an American podcaster.

Bring on the one that's all British and snarky!

Re: NotebookLM's automatically generated podcasts are surprisingly effective

#166
post #119
post #115

Getting complex jokes right would be impressive for me. I don't have much of a sense of aesthetic for music and most art. A painting looks good, but I don't understand how I'm supposed to appreciate. Half my music could be AI generated, and I wouldn't notice if it's background music. An AI generated wine would taste the same to me as a $1000 bottle. But I think most people understand comic genius. Chapelle's jokes ar…

> Chapelle's jokes are far better than someone who is on stage to deliver a performance with predictable material. Don't get me wrong, I'm a fan, but you don't have to look far to see that this opinion is not universal

You're right. Chappelle is controversial, and many rightfully abhor his material. However, I think you can look at the structure of his jokes objectively rather than the content. Obviously, you can't say all his material is like this. But the well paying shows are brilliant IMO. I appreciate his creativity compared to many other comics. Comedy is hard. That's why I said good comedy from bots is where I would really be impressed.

Re: NotebookLM's automatically generated podcasts are surprisingly effective

#167

NotebookLM's is incredibly good at generating the affect and structure of a quality podcast. This is in-line with all art, music, and video created by LMM at the moment. They are imitating a structure and affect, the quality of the content is largely irrelevant. I think the interesting thing is that most people don't really care, and AI is not to blame for that. Most books published today have the affect of a book, b…

I think and hope that you're wrong. There's always been cheese, and there's a lot of it now. But there is still a market for top-notch insight. For example, Perun. This guy delivers an hourlong presentation on (mostly) the Ukraine-Russia war and its pure quality. Insights, humour, excellent delivery, from what seems to be a military-focused economist/analyst/consultant. We're a while away from some bot taking this ki…

I would like them to be right, for that to mean that the 'real' content gets fewer (fewer bother) but better (or at least higher SNR among what there is).

And then faster/easier/cheaper access to the LM 'uninspired but possibly useful' content, whatever that might look like.

Re: NotebookLM's automatically generated podcasts are surprisingly effective

#168
post #156

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I think the main problem with Peruns' videos are that they are videos. I run a little program on my home-lab that turns them into podcasts and I find that I enjoy them far more because I need to be less engaged with a podcast to still find them enjoyable. (Also, I gave up on being up to date with Ukraine situation, since up to date information is almost always wrong. I am happy to be a week or a 14 days behind if the…

Just turn off the screen with youtube video playing and there's no difference from a podcast? I listen to Perun at the gym every week, audio only.

That's a paid service that some people balk at.

Re: NotebookLM's automatically generated podcasts are surprisingly effective

#169
post #120

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Different strokes for different folks... We all seek different kinds of quality; I don't find Peruns videos to have any quality except volume. He reads bullet points he has prepared, and makes predictable dad jokes in monotone, re-uses and reruns the same points, icons, slides, etc. Just personally, I find it really samey and some of the reporting has been delayed so much it's entirely detached from the ground by the…

Drifting off topic, but do you have any examples of those analysis/sitrep content creators you prefer?

Not who you asked, but the daily ones I sometimes watch are Reporting From Ukraine and Denys Davydov.

Re: NotebookLM's automatically generated podcasts are surprisingly effective

#170
post #99

Who wants to listen to this? Is there seriously a market for non-human hosts?

For me, it all depends on the quality of content. If it's good I wouldn't care by whom it was generated. The podcast thing is impressive, but not quite there yet. But I could imagine that this will change in the next few years.
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