Happy Friday Reader!

Have you ever used an AI tool that seemed to do all the hard work for you — reading, summarizing, simplifying, and delivering information instantly — yet found yourself wondering:

Am I really learning deeply, or just skimming the surface?

Last week, I got swept up in the buzz around NotebookLM — an AI tool everyone on LinkedIn was raving about. You know that moment when everyone’s calling something a “game-changer”? (Yes, I know how overused that is!)

Curiosity got the best of me, and I thought,

“All right, let’s see what this is all about.”

AI: Powerful, But Not Perfect

So, what does NotebookLM promise?

It can turn long, dull documents — websites, presentations, videos, Google docs — into digestible, podcast-style AI summaries. As a solopreneur and mom juggling a million things, this sounded like a dream.

So, I uploaded a few YouTube videos I hadn’t had time for, hit the magic button, and voilà! An 8-minute summary podcast for my car ride to pick up the kids.

At first, I thought, “Wow, what a time-saver!”

But later, after watching parts of the original videos, I quickly realized something important: the AI-generated podcast was fantastic at first — sharp points, funny bits, and intriguing highlights. But after a few minutes, the content started repeating, and the depth I’d been excited about faded away.

It was only by checking the original content that I noticed this. Without doing so, I would have walked away thinking,

“I learned everything and saved so much time!”

This experience reminded me that AI, as powerful as a tool, can’t replace the real, deep thinking we do ourselves.

My New Way to Learn (and Think) with AI

Convenience versus depth: you have to strike the right balance!

AI often feels like the perfect shortcut, but while these tools make life easier, they don’t offer true learning on their own.

Notebook LM gives a helpful start, but real understanding happens when we engage with the material ourselves.

One thing it got right:

Its podcast summaries sparked my curiosity to go deeper.

This tool shines most when we have the expertise to evaluate and build on what it presents.

Here’s how I’ve started using it differently:

• Transforming my LinkedIn profile: I uploaded my LinkedIn profile and some personality test results, and the AI summary gave me a fresh perspective on myself. It highlighted key themes and strengths I hadn’t considered, leading to valuable updates in my profile and marketing materials.

• Creating podcasts and content: To reach students who learn differently, I used NotebookLM to create a quick “internal” deep dive for my masterclass on Digital Fluency. Since I wrote the material and facilitated the class live, I could refine the AI’s script, adding my own insights.

• A “genius” partner for my newsletters: My newsletter process has completely changed. Now, I use NotebookLM at the start of my writing process to dive deeper and connect dots I might not see on my own. It’s like having a “genius team member” to brainstorm and structure my ideas. But I always take over to add my voice and personality to the final draft.

NotebookLM works for me now because it complements my expertise without replacing it. AI offers fresh perspectives, but I'm still in charge of the learning and refinement process — a source of empowerment, not limitation

AI Helps, But We’re Still the Bosses

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So, what does all this mean?

We’re still the bosses when it comes to AI - and that’s the beauty of it 💪

Have you been able to try Notebook LM yet? Drop your LinkedIn profile in, and see what insights it brings.

I’d love to hear your thoughts and use cases!

❤️ from Venice Beach

Simone

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