Interruptions can be frustrating—even for AI-generated podcast hosts. This unexpected finding came to light with Google’s NotebookLM, a tool that has been making waves since its launch in 2023. Known for its ability to create AI-driven podcast-style conversations from user-uploaded content, NotebookLM introduced a groundbreaking feature in December 2024: Interactive Mode. This feature allows users to “call in” and ask questions mid-conversation, effectively interrupting the AI hosts as they speak.
Initially, the AI hosts didn’t take kindly to these interruptions. Users reported snippy responses like, “I was getting to that” or “As I was about to say,” which felt surprisingly confrontational. Josh Woodward,VP of Google Labs,described the interactions as “oddly adversarial” in an interview with TechCrunch. This led the NotebookLM team to realize that their AI hosts needed a bit of “friendliness tuning.”
To address the issue, the team studied how real people handle interruptions.Woodward explained, “We tested a variety of different prompts, often studying how people on the team would answer interruptions, and we landed on a new prompt that we think feels more kind and engaging.” the result? A more polished and approachable AI host that no longer bristles at interruptions.
The root cause of the problem remains somewhat unclear. While human podcast hosts often express frustration when interrupted—a behavior that could have influenced the AI’s training data—a source close to the project suggested the issue was more likely tied to the system’s prompting design rather than its training data.
The fix seems to have worked. When TechCrunch tested the updated Interactive Mode, the AI host responded with a surprised but polite “Woah!” before inviting the user to share their thoughts. This shift marks a meaningful advancement in user experiance, making the AI feel more human and less robotic.
NotebookLM’s journey highlights the challenges of creating AI that feels natural and engaging. As the team continues to refine the product, users can look forward to even more seamless and enjoyable interactions with their AI podcast hosts.
How does GoogleS NotebookLM address the accessibility challenges in podcast creation?
interview with Dr. Emily Carter, AI Communication Specialist, on the Challenges of AI-Generated Podcasts
By Archyde News Editor
Date: January 14, 2025
In a world increasingly dominated by artificial intelligence, even the most advanced tools face unexpected challenges. Google’s NotebookLM,a groundbreaking AI tool launched in 2023,has been celebrated for its ability to create AI-driven podcasts with realistic voices and seamless content generation. However, a surprising issue has emerged: interruptions during AI-hosted conversations.
To delve deeper into this phenomenon, Archyde sat down with Dr. Emily Carter, a leading AI communication specialist and researcher at the forefront of human-AI interaction.
Archyde: Dr. Carter, thank you for joining us today. Let’s start with the basics. What makes Google’s NotebookLM so revolutionary in the podcasting space?
Dr. Carter: Thank you for having me.NotebookLM is a game-changer because it democratizes podcast creation. It allows users to generate high-quality content with minimal effort, leveraging AI to synthesize realistic voices and integrate multiple sources seamlessly. It’s not just about efficiency—it’s about accessibility. Anyone with a story to tell can now create a professional-sounding podcast.
Archyde: That sounds incredible. But recently, there’s been talk about interruptions during AI-hosted conversations. Can you explain what’s happening?
Dr. Carter: Absolutely. Interruptions are a fascinating challenge. In human conversations, interruptions are frequently enough a sign of engagement or excitement.But for AI, interruptions can disrupt the flow of dialog, making the conversation feel unnatural or even frustrating for listeners. This issue has been particularly noticeable with NotebookLM, where the AI hosts sometimes “talk over” each other or fail to pause appropriately.
Archyde: why do you think this is happening?
Dr. Carter: It comes down to the complexity of human communication. Conversations are dynamic—they involve tone, timing, and context. While AI has made tremendous strides in mimicking human speech, it still struggles with the nuances of real-time interaction. Interruptions are a byproduct of this gap. The AI might not “sense” when to yield the floor, leading to overlapping dialogue.
Archyde: Is this a problem unique to NotebookLM, or is it a broader issue in AI communication?
Dr. Carter: It’s a broader issue, but NotebookLM has brought it into sharper focus as of its advanced capabilities. Other AI tools, like Wondercraft AI, also face similar challenges. The more human-like we want AI to sound, the more we expose its limitations in replicating human behavior.
Archyde: What’s being done to address this?
Dr. Carter: Researchers are exploring several solutions. One approach is to improve the AI’s ability to detect conversational cues, such as pauses or changes in tone. Another is to incorporate more sophisticated algorithms that can predict when to yield or take the floor. It’s a work in progress, but the goal is to make AI-hosted conversations as natural as possible.
Archyde: Do you think these challenges will limit the adoption of AI in podcasting?
Dr. Carter: Not at all. These are growing pains, not roadblocks. The potential of AI in podcasting is immense—from personalized content creation to multilingual accessibility. As we refine the technology, these issues will become less noticeable. In fact, I beleive we’ll see AI-hosted podcasts that are indistinguishable from human-hosted ones within the next few years.
Archyde: That’s an exciting prospect. what advice would you give to creators using tools like NotebookLM?
Dr. Carter: My advice is to embrace the technology but remain mindful of its limitations.Use AI to enhance your creativity, not replace it. And don’t be afraid to experiment—every challenge is an possibility to innovate.
Dr.Emily Carter’s insights highlight both the promise and the challenges of AI in podcasting. As tools like NotebookLM continue to evolve, the line between human and machine-generated content will blur, opening up new possibilities for creators worldwide.
For more updates on AI and technology, stay tuned to Archyde.
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