Google Expands Multilingual Access for AI-Powered Audio Summaries
Google has introduced a major update to its experimental AI tool, NotebookLM, by expanding the Audio Overview feature to support over 50 languages, including both Traditional and Simplified Chinese. This development significantly improves global accessibility, allowing more users to enjoy AI-generated podcast-style summaries in their native languages.
Previously, the Audio Overview function — one of NotebookLM’s standout features — was available only in English. It enables users to select documents, websites or YouTube links, and the system then summarizes the content in a natural, conversational podcast format, mimicking a question-and-answer style dialogue. This makes it particularly engaging and digestible for auditory learners or podcast enthusiasts.
How to Change the Output Language
Changing the language of your Audio Overview is straightforward. Within the NotebookLM interface, users can click the Settings (gear icon) at the top right and locate the “Output Language” option. By default, this is set to match your Google Account language, but it can be changed at any time to receive Audio Overviews and responses in a different language of your choice.
While Cantonese is still not available, both Traditional and Simplified Chinese options allow Mandarin-speaking users to experience localized audio summaries. Note that all non-English languages are still in Beta, and the generated output may not be entirely accurate. Google advises users to double-check audio results for precision.
How to Change Output Language
Users can change their Audio Overview language in the Settings menu (gear icon) at the top right of the NotebookLM interface. The default is based on the user's Google Account language, but this can be adjusted manually to any of the supported options.
While Cantonese remains unsupported, Traditional and Simplified Chinese are fully integrated. However, as the feature is still in Beta for non-English languages, Google recommends verifying output accuracy.
Example 1: Podcast Summary from Zuckerberg’s AR Glasses Interview
One practical example is summarizing multimedia content. By inputting a YouTube link from Fortune Magazine where Mark Zuckerberg discusses Meta's AR glasses, NotebookLM produced an Audio Overview in Traditional Chinese with natural Mandarin narration and a Taiwanese accent.
Example 2: Classroom Insights on AI Multi-Role Strategy by Carina Cheung
Another example features Carina Cheung from uCloudlink, who shared her insights in class about how AI is reshaping multi-role strategies in tech companies. Her full perspective is documented in a blog post: “實戰分享：AI時代下科技企業『一人多工』的轉型策略”.
The content was processed using NotebookLM and summarized into a podcast-style Audio Overview in Traditional Chinese. The summary captured the practical strategies and mindset shifts discussed during her session.
🎧 Listen to the AI-Generated Audio Overviews
▶️ Listen to Audio Overview – Zuckerberg on AR Glasses
▶️ Listen to Audio Overview – Carina Cheung on Multi-Role AI
Implications for AI Accessibility
With this multilingual enhancement, NotebookLM becomes more than just a productivity tool—it serves as a bridge between human knowledge and AI understanding across cultures. The ability to generate audio summaries in over 50 languages democratizes access to information, especially for communities with limited literacy or visual impairments.
This also reflects a broader shift in human-computer interaction: we are moving from text-based commands to natural, voice-first experiences. By enabling podcast-style learning in diverse languages, NotebookLM supports education, business, and content creation for global users who prefer to listen, rather than read.
References
中文總結
NotebookLM 多語更新：Audio Overview 現支援 50 多種語言，包含繁體中文！
Google 最近擴充其 NotebookLM 工具的 Audio Overview 功能，加入 超過 50 種語言，其中包括 繁體中文與簡體中文。這讓更多用戶能以母語收聽 AI 播報的 Podcast 摘要內容。
該功能能將選定的資料轉換成模擬對話式的 Podcast 語音摘要，對於喜歡聽覺學習的用戶是一大福音。目前仍在 Beta 階段，建議用戶針對非英文語音內容加以確認其準確性。
應用案例：祖克柏談 AR 眼鏡
透過輸入 祖克柏接受訪問的 YouTube 影片，NotebookLM 可自動生成繁體中文 Podcast 摘要，語音自然、語調接近台灣口音。
應用案例：Carina 分享多工 AI 策略
Carina Cheung 在一堂課中分享她對「一人多工」的 AI 實戰經驗，並發表於部落格文章 《AI時代下科技企業的轉型策略》。輸入此文後，NotebookLM 產出了一段精簡而自然的繁體中文語音摘要。
🎧 收聽 Podcast 摘要
Keywords
NotebookLM, Audio Overview, Google AI, Podcast Summary, Traditional Chinese, AR Glasses, Mark Zuckerberg, Carina Cheung, uCloudlink, Multi-role AI, AI in Business, Multilingual AI, Dr. Ken FONG
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