The Download: Google’s AI podcasts, and protecting your brain data

Google’s new AI podcasting device, known as Audio Overview, has change into a shock viral hit.

The podcasting function was launched in mid-September as a part of NotebookLM, a year-old AI-powered analysis assistant. NotebookLM, which is powered by Google’s Gemini 1.5 mannequin, permits folks to add content material similar to hyperlinks, movies, PDFs, and textual content. They will then ask the system questions in regards to the content material, and it presents quick summaries.

The device generates a podcast known as Deep Dive, which incorporates a male and a feminine voice discussing no matter you uploaded. The voices are breathtakingly life like.

Sure, it’s cool—bordering on pleasant, even—however it’s also not immune from the issues that plague generative AI, similar to hallucinations and bias. Here are some of the main ways people are using NotebookLM so far. 

—Melissa Heikkilä

A brand new legislation in California protects customers’ mind information. Some assume it doesn’t go far sufficient.

On September 28, California grew to become the second US state to formally acknowledge the significance of psychological privateness in state legislation. Measuring mind exercise can reveal loads about an individual—and that’s why neural information must be protected.Mind information is valuable. It’s not the identical as thought, however it may be used to work out how we’re considering and feeling, and reveal our innermost preferences and needs. Jessica Hamzelou, our senior biotech reporter, has taken a have a look at how California’s legislation may defend psychological privateness—and the way far we nonetheless should go. Read the full story.

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