Google’s new AI podcasting software, known as Audio Overview, has turn into a shock viral hit.

The podcasting characteristic was launched in mid-September as a part of NotebookLM, a year-old AI-powered analysis assistant. NotebookLM, which is powered by Google’s Gemini 1.5 mannequin, permits individuals to add content material equivalent to hyperlinks, movies, PDFs, and textual content. They will then ask the system questions in regards to the content material, and it provides quick summaries.

The software generates a podcast known as Deep Dive, which includes a male and a feminine voice discussing no matter you uploaded. The voices are breathtakingly reasonable.

Sure, it’s cool—bordering on pleasant, even—however additionally it is not immune from the issues that plague generative AI, equivalent to hallucinations and bias. Listed here are a number of the principal methods persons are utilizing NotebookLM to this point. 

—Melissa Heikkilä

A brand new regulation in California protects customers’ mind knowledge. Some assume it doesn’t go far sufficient.

On September 28, California grew to become the second US state to formally acknowledge the significance of psychological privateness in state regulation. Measuring mind exercise can reveal quite a bit about an individual—and that’s why neural knowledge must be protected.Mind knowledge is treasured. It’s not the identical as thought, however it may be used to work out how we’re considering and feeling, and reveal our innermost preferences and wishes. Jessica Hamzelou, our senior biotech reporter, has taken a take a look at how California’s regulation may defend psychological privateness—and the way far we nonetheless must go. Learn the total story.

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