ElevenLabs Unveils NotebookLM Rival for Generating AI-Powered Podcasts

In a significant development, Voice AI startup ElevenLabs has introduced a feature that enables users to upload various types of content and create a multispeaker podcast. This innovative feature, called GenFM, is now available on the company’s ElevenLabs Reader iOS app.

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What is GenFM?

GenFM allows users to upload YouTube videos, text, or documents and automatically creates a podcast with two voices. Currently, the feature supports 32 languages, including English, Hindi, Portuguese, Chinese, Spanish, French, German, Japanese, and others.

How Does GenFM Work?

To use GenFM, follow these simple steps:

Upload Content: Users can upload YouTube videos, text, or documents to the ElevenLabs Reader app.
Select Voices: The app automatically picks two voices from a pool of over a dozen options to create a podcast.
Create Podcast: Once the voices are selected, the app generates a multispeaker podcast.

The Human Touch

One of the unique aspects of GenFM is its ability to add human-like elements to AI-generated podcasts. The app’s developers have introduced features like "Sprinkling some umms" and "adding some thoughtful pauses." This move is significant as it adds a natural touch to AI-generated content, making it more engaging for listeners.

"We debated about how much to introduce ‘ums,’ ‘ahs,’ ‘mhmms’/laughter/breathing similar human dialogue fillers or overlays — we’re aiming to strike the right balance of natural, human conversation and providing utility from the content," said Jack McDermott, who looks after mobile growth at ElevenLabs.

The company’s goal is to create an immersive experience for listeners, making audio narratives more accessible across voices and languages. As McDermott noted, "As we look at exceptional long-form podcasts out there, we find [fewer] interruptions and more natural, insightful conversation flow."

Future Developments

ElevenLabs plans to support more customization options in the future, allowing users to add multiple sources to create a generative AI podcast. This will enable users to have even more control over their podcast creations.

Competition from Google NotebookLM

In September, Google launched the ability to create AI-generated conversations with NotebookLM, which also allows users to customize these outputs. A month later, Google added the ability for users to customize these AI-generated podcast outputs.

ElevenLabs is not the only player in this space; however, their innovative approach and focus on creating a multispeaker podcast experience set them apart from competitors like Google.

Expanding Reach

In addition to introducing GenFM, ElevenLabs has been expanding its reach into new markets. The company recently announced an investment of $11 million into the Polish startup ecosystem and plans to open an office in Warsaw as its R&D center to attract local AI talent. ElevenLabs is also expanding into India, where it has hired a business head and is now building a team.

Conclusion

ElevenLabs’ introduction of GenFM marks a significant milestone in the development of Voice AI technology. By enabling users to create multispeaker podcasts with human-like elements, the company is pushing the boundaries of what is possible with AI-generated content.

As the demand for high-quality audio narratives continues to grow, ElevenLabs’ innovative approach and focus on customization options will undoubtedly make it a leader in this space.

Future Developments

Competing with Google NotebookLM

ElevenLabs is not the only player in this space; however, their innovative approach and focus on creating a multispeaker podcast experience set them apart from competitors like Google.

Expanding Reach

Conclusion

As the demand for high-quality audio narratives continues to grow, ElevenLabs’ innovative approach and focus on customization options will undoubtedly make it a leader in this space.