Open NotebookLM allows users to test the tool via its Hugging Face page or install it locally from its GitHub repository. However, Google’s track record raises concerns about future monetization and data privacy, as they often leverage user data to train AI models. While the language model processes up to 100,000 characters, MeloTTS handles speech synthesis, delivering a range of tones from “fun” to “formal.” python app.py
Table of Contents
Performance
git clone https://github.com/gabrielchua/open-notebooklm.git
cd open-notebooklm
- Set up a Python virtual environment.
Feed your documents to Google’s NotebookLM and it creates a podcast styled conversation between two people discussing the core of the document.
What is Open NotebookLM?
While Open NotebookLM offers a solid, open-source alternative for converting PDFs into podcasts, Google’s NotebookLM provides a more comprehensive, free tool that generates summaries and allows interactive queries about uploaded documents. If it interests you, check out the project on GitHub, give it a star maybe.However, not everyone trusts Google with their data, and it is likely to be a paid feature in the future.Conversely, Google’s tool, though polished, feels like a double-edged sword with potential hidden costs in terms of data privacy and future accessibility.
Key Features
- PDF to Podcast: Upload any PDF, and it’s automatically transformed into an audio file.
- Interactive Dialogue: The generated dialogue simulates a podcast conversation, enhancing listener engagement.
- User-Friendly Interface: Thanks to Gradio, users can interact with the tool through a simple web interface, even without deep technical knowledge.
Access and Usage
That said, the idea of converting documents into podcasts is valuable, especially for busy individuals who need to consume content on the go.Both have their strengths, but as with most AI-driven tools, the trade-offs depend on user priorities, whether it’s data control or convenience.
- Clone the GitHub repository.
This lets you upload a PDF and quickly see it converted into a podcast without any installation.
If you prefer to install it locally, follow these steps:Benefit? Instead of reading, you can just listen to the ‘important’ parts in podcast style while commuting, exercising, or doing chores.
Unlike traditional text readers, it structures the content into a natural conversation between speakers. The tool not only generated engaging audio but also created a readable dialogue alongside it. I was impressed by how easy it was to download the podcast as an MP3 file.
Ensure you set your API key as the FIREWORKS_API_KEY environment variable before running the application.Open NotebookLM, on the other hand, while not as feature-rich as Google’s version, it offers an important alternative for users who value data privacy and the flexibility of an open-source approach.
Comparing Google NotebookLM and Open NotebookLM
You can check out my video of the interaction with a PDF I downloaded from Wikipedia about Linux: If you’re just starting out and want to see how Open NotebookLM works, you can check out the official project hosted on Hugging Face. Google’s latest AI offering, NotebookLM took the tech world by storm.Luckily, I came across an open source alternative.
My Thoughts
As you can see in the video I opted for the “fun” tone & the AI amusingly presented the history as if Linus Torvalds himself were speaking in a female voice, which gave me quite a chuckle 😆After testing Open NotebookLM, it’s clear the project has potential. While the Hugging web app provides an accessible way to try it out, long queues and initial errors were frustrating. In conclusion, Open NotebookLM delivers a fresh and practical approach to document consumption, especially with its open-source foundation.Open NotebookLM turns PDFs into dynamic podcast-style audio files using Llama 3.1 for natural language generation and MeloTTS for text-to-speech. Whether you are a university student or a working professional, getting time to sit and read is not an option for many, and often, the text-heavy PDFs get pushed to the bottom of the to-read pile.Though NotebookLM is free for now, it could easily shift behind a paywall or impose usage restrictions.
