Google's AI-powered note-taking tool NotebookLM has taken a significant leap forward in accessibility by expanding its popular Audio Overview feature to support more than 50 languages. This update transforms the tool from an English-only service into a truly global platform, enabling users worldwide to convert their study materials and research into engaging AI-generated podcasts in their native language.
The Evolution of NotebookLM's Audio Overview
NotebookLM's Audio Overview feature, which launched in late 2024, quickly became the tool's standout capability. It transforms text content into podcast-style conversations between two AI hosts, making dense information more digestible and engaging. Until now, this feature was limited to English, restricting its utility for non-English speakers. The new multilingual support, powered by Google's Gemini 2.5 Pro, represents a major expansion of the tool's reach and functionality.
Language Support Details
The update introduces support for over 50 languages, covering major global languages like Spanish, Hindi, Japanese, Arabic, and Chinese, as well as less widely spoken languages such as Afrikaans, Basque, Galician, and Konkani. The feature offers regional language variations as well, with separate options for European Spanish, Latin American Spanish, and Mexican Spanish, as well as similar regional options for French, Portuguese, and other languages.
Supported Languages in NotebookLM Audio Overview
- Afrikaans
- Arabic
- Azerbaijani
- Bulgarian
- Bengali
- Catalan
- Czech
- Danish
- German
- Greek
- Spanish (European, Latin American, Mexico)
- Estonian
- Basque
- Persian
- Finnish
- Filipino
- French (European, Canada)
- Galician
- Gujarati
- Hindi
- Croatian
- Haitian Creole
- Hungarian
- Armenian
- Indonesian
- Icelandic
- Italian
- Hebrew
- Japanese
- Javanese
- Georgian
- Kannada
- Korean
- Konkani
- Latin
- Lithuanian
- Latvian
- Maithili
- Macedonian
- Malayalam
- Marathi
- Malay
- Burmese (Myanmar)
- Nepali
- Dutch
- Norwegian (Nynorsk, Bokmål)
- Oriya
- Punjabi
- Polish
- Pashto
- Portuguese (Brazil, Portugal)
- Romanian
- Russian
- Sindhi
- Sinhala
- Slovak
- Slovenian
- Albanian
- Serbian (Cyrillic)
- Swedish
- Swahili
- Tamil
- Telugu
- Thai
- Turkish
- Ukrainian
- Urdu
- Vietnamese
- Chinese (Simplified, Traditional)
How to Access the New Languages
Users can select their preferred language through a new Output Language option in NotebookLM's settings. If no language is manually selected, the system will default to the language set in the user's Google Account. According to Google's announcement, the non-English language support is still in beta and is rolling out gradually, so some users may need to wait a few days before gaining access to the feature.
Real-World Applications
The multilingual Audio Overview feature opens up numerous practical applications. It can help break down complex content for non-English speakers, assist language learners by providing content in their target language, and enable researchers to translate academic materials into their preferred language. For students who are studying in a language that isn't their native tongue, this tool could prove invaluable for comprehension and retention.
User Experience and Quality
Early testing of the Spanish language version has shown impressive results. A native Spanish speaker who tested the feature noted that the AI-generated podcast sounded natural and maintained accuracy while adapting the content appropriately for Spanish speakers. The system avoided literal translations (which often fail to convey the same meaning) and instead created conversational, well-organized content that remained faithful to the original text.
NotebookLM's Growing Appeal
While NotebookLM hasn't yet achieved the widespread adoption of tools like Google Drive or Notion, it has been steadily gaining popularity, particularly among students and researchers. Its key advantage is its ability to stay grounded in the sources provided, minimizing the risk of AI hallucinations or fabrications. The Audio Overview feature has been particularly well-received for its ability to transform static text into dynamic, engaging audio content that can be consumed while commuting or performing other tasks.
Availability and Pricing
This update comes shortly after Google announced that students can access Google's One AI Premium Plan, which costs USD $20 per user per month and includes access to NotebookLM's premium tier. NotebookLM Plus offers subscriber-only features and five times higher usage limits for key features, including Audio Overview, notebooks, queries, and sources per notebook.
Future Outlook
As Google continues to enhance NotebookLM with features like multilingual support, the tool is positioning itself as a versatile AI assistant for academic and professional research. The addition of language support significantly expands its potential user base and demonstrates Google's commitment to making AI tools more accessible globally. While still in its development stage, NotebookLM is evolving into a powerful resource for knowledge workers across language barriers.