This AI app turns your reading list into a podcast with digital hosts
Podcasts can be a great way to learn complex topics, but not everything you read is covered in an episode. AI audio maker ElevenLabs is solving this with a new feature that reshapes documents you upload to an audio show, with virtual hosts discussing the topic. The new GenFM feature is part of the ElevenLabs Reader app and turns any mix of PDFs, articles and digital books into your own personal podcast episodes.
The new feature shares many similarities with Google NotebookLM, which uses Google Gemini AI models to turn documents into podcast-like shows where synthetic personalities discuss what you’ve uploaded to each other. Similar to Google’s feature, GenFM analyzes the information you upload and produces a synthetic podcast with two AI co-hosts discussing the material. GenFM even tries to match the voices with the topic being discussed.
If you are an auditory learner or need to absorb information while doing other things, GenFM will likely appeal to you. That said, while GenFM is limited to the documents you upload, you’ll probably still want to be on the lookout for accidental hallucinations or misunderstood data. You can see and hear some examples in the demo video below.
Future of AI podcasts
Although GenFM and Google NotebookLM are pursuing the same kind of product, ElevenLabs’ AI-generated podcast efforts are a step further than Google’s. NotebookLM is currently limited to the Internet and can only create shows in English. In contrast, GenFM’s AI hosts can communicate in 32 languages. Yet both tools are suitable for more diverse learning styles and lifestyles.
The potential demand from students alone will likely justify the work behind GenFM. And unlike some other uses of AI composition tools in academia, this doesn’t raise ethical questions about cheating or plagiarism. They also increase accessibility for people with low vision who do not want to have a long document read to them while they can hear a podcast about it. They also democratize access to information, making it easier for those with visual impairments or reading difficulties to interact with the content.
