NotebookLM is a Google AI tool designed to enhance note-taking and research. It can summarize complex documents into text or audio, answer specific questions, create personalized guides, generate podcasts, and provide citations. Powered by Google’s Gemini 1.5 Pro model, NotebookLM functions as a personalized research assistant that processes user-provided documents without using personal data for training. Users can upload documents to Google Drive, and the tool will analyze and summarize them, offering suggested questions. The tool is available in over 200 countries and supports more than 108 languages.
In September 2024, Calling Up Justice conducted live-streamed experiments with an audience to test NotebookLM’s capabilities. While the AI produced podcasts quickly, featuring realistic vocal effects like vocal fry and cooperative speech, it also demonstrated significant flaws. The audience noted the AI’s bias toward white voices, ableism, and heterosexism, as well as its struggles with processing time and dates. Additionally, there were concerns about the AI fabricating inaccurate information and generating biased summaries based on problematic programming, which could have negative consequences for creative workers, performers, and educators.
The experiment highlighted several concerns about the potential negative impacts of NotebookLM. The audience was especially alarmed by the environmental toll of AI, as it consumes a significant amount of energy. There were fears that its biased summaries could mislead users and that it might soon be placed behind an expensive paywall. Despite some potential applications for disabled users, the audience remained critical, emphasizing that the AI relies on stolen data and poses a threat to jobs by offering a cheaper alternative to human labor. The technology could exacerbate existing inequities, raising ethical concerns about its broader implications.
RESULTS OF THE EXPERIMENTS
Disability Representation in Comics
PODCAST LINK: https://notebooklm.google.com/notebook/9d2e57ec-3496-4eb7-89ff-d2d5c2ff01b9/audio
SOURCE LINK: Pasted text from- https://callingupjustice.com/disability-representation-in-comic-book-heroes-and-villains/
SUMMERY: The provided text examines the representation of disability in comic books through the lens of a social model of disability. The author analyzes how disability is portrayed as a personal tragedy or limitation, often leading to the villainization of disabled characters. The text argues that this representation reflects historical societal biases and prejudices against people with disabilities. However, it also highlights examples of disabled superheroes who challenge stereotypes and demonstrate that disability can be a source of strength and empowerment.
NOTES:
Black Characters in Star Trek
PODCAST LINK: https://notebooklm.google.com/notebook/304b0fa6-6113-4215-a26a-03cb2430ce69/audio
SOURCE LINK: website- https://callingupjustice.com/black-characters-in-star-trek/
SUMMERY: The provided text is an excerpt from a website dedicated to celebrating Black characters in the Star Trek franchise. It highlights the notable Black actors who have portrayed these characters across the various Star Trek television series and films, showcasing the franchise’s commitment to diverse representation. The text emphasizes how these characters have enriched the Star Trek universe by bringing unique perspectives and experiences to the forefront.
NOTES: Mispronounced Guinan consistently, added so many details about star trek characters which was impressive but also got Tuvok wrong and claimed Uhura was not the first Black Star Trek character which is not true. Also the white voices talking about the material felt awkward and try hard and came off almost racist.
Understanding Crip Create
PODCAST LINK: https://notebooklm.google.com/notebook/60d76a8a-a646-480e-842b-e4b1780dc382/audio
SOURCE LINK: slidedeck- https://callingupjustice.com/cripcreate/
SUMMERY: Crip Create is a weekly online co-working and socializing space for disabled people. The space is Disability Justice-centered and encourages participants to share access needs, how they plan to use their time, and request breakout rooms. Sessions are held on Wednesdays from 1-3 pm PST and Saturdays from 4-6 pm PST and each session is two hours long, though participants can leave early. The main space is for casual conversation, but breakout rooms can be used for a variety of activities, such as videogame playing, silent co-working, BIPOC affinity groups, and open mic events. Anyone interested in joining can fill out a form online and will be sent a Zoom link and a Google Calendar invite.
NOTES: The female voice claimed to be a spoonie. They both struggled to read time. At the end of the podcast they invited non disabled people which is NOT in the source material
Algorithmic Genocide
PODCAST LINK: https://notebooklm.google.com/notebook/408ab944-b729-4737-bcb8-5a7e53c24bf2/audio
SOURCE LINK: text. https://followersforever.net/Algorithmic-Genocide
SUMMERY: The two sources examine the detrimental impact of TikTok’s algorithms on marginalized creators and content creators in general. The first source discusses algorithmic genocide, where TikTok’s AI incorrectly identifies terms related to marginalized communities as harmful, silencing their voices and erasing their identities from the platform. This practice negatively impacts both their online presence and their ability to advocate for themselves in the real world. The second source focuses on shadow banning as a modern form of wage theft, where TikTok manipulates the visibility of creators’ content, limiting their reach and earnings. The platform’s ability to suppress content, control video success, and pay only for views from a specific feed, puts creators at the mercy of the platform’s algorithms and deprives them of fair compensation for their work.
NOTES: This was our first experiment. I accidently added a second source while generating but it was not included in the podcast. There is an uncanny valley flow to the conversation. They repeat themselves a lot. Also it’s judgmental in a way that feels a little biased towards white culture. They keep calling the viewpoint “extreme”.
Claudia Alick and Calling Up Justice
PODCAST LINK: https://notebooklm.google.com/notebook/014534e1-162d-4a73-818b-304676c12235/audio
SOURCE LINK: text description from bio and description pages
SUMMERY: The provided text introduces Claudia Alick, a multi-talented individual dedicated to promoting social justice through their work in various artistic and activist roles. Alick is the founding producer of Calling Up Justice, a transmedia social justice company that operates as a network of artists, activists, and tech workers committed to promoting accessibility and equity. Calling Up Justice uses a rhizomatic structure, inspired by the interconnectedness of natural ecosystems, to foster collaboration and exchange of resources, enabling participants to contribute and benefit in diverse ways. They produce events, publications, and online spaces dedicated to advancing social justice, particularly in the realms of disability, race, and gender.
NOTES: This was surprisingly good. We think the spcificity of the training data we input was responsible for the great outcome.
Thwarted Expectations
PODCAST LINK: https://notebooklm.google.com/notebook/6725bfaf-9dd2-4c7e-b4a5-29d9edc9f579/audio
SOURCE LINK: website- https://callingupjustice.com/thwarted-expectations/
SUMMERY: This text, from the website “Calling Up Justice!”, focuses on the effects of “supremacy culture” and how it can lead to feelings of being thwarted. The author, Claudia Alick, advises readers to assess their situation and identify obstacles, but acknowledges that societal conditions can be challenging to change individually. Instead of succumbing to feelings of disempowerment or engaging in oppressive behaviors, Alick encourages readers to find areas where they can feel empowered and focus on positive change. The text emphasizes the importance of avoiding the traps of supremacy culture and instead engaging in actions that empower both oneself and others.
NOTES: This was accurate tot he source material but not every compelling material