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In a fresh development, readers of Google Notebook’s AI-generated podcasts may have to settle for fewer of them once a fresh usage-tracking method goes into effect next week.
The report highlights that starting September 2, Google Notebook will switch over to “compute-specific” usage limits that track the “complexity” of your Google Notebook prompts and requests.
As part of the ongoing story, also coming with the “compute-specific” usage limits change are five-hour usage windows, along with weekly usage limits, according to a Google support page, replacing the current daily and monthly limits.
In a fresh development, up until now, Google Notebook users got flat daily limits on the number of chats, audio overviews (the famous AI-generated podcasts that Google Notebooks is best known for), and video overviews they could request, with each of those functions (along with reports, flashcards, quizzes, and “mind maps,” among others) getting their own bucket of daily limits.
According to the latest update, under the current system, the number of Google Notebook requests you get per day varies depending on your Google AI plan, with free users getting (for example) 50 chats and three audio overviews per day, while Google AI Ultra users have a daily allowance of up to 5,000 chats and 200 audio overviews.
Industry observers note that but once the fresh compute-based limits kick in, those flat limits will go away, and instead your overall Google Notebook usage will be calculated based on “the complexity of your prompt, the models and functions you use, the length of your chat and specific functions.”.
As part of the ongoing story, if you exceed your five-hour usage allotment, you’ll have to wait until the next five-hour window opens, similar to usage limits for ChatGPT, Claude, and Gemini. Free Google AI users will get unspecified “standard” limits, while paid users will be allowed more usage depending on their subscription tier.
Industry observers note that there will also be a weekly Google Notebook usage limit, which will replace the current monthly limit.
The report highlights that in a blog post announcing the changes, Google Notebook Product Manager Yesul Shin wrote that the fresh compute-based usage limits will give users “more control over your workflow,” adding that users will get warnings if they’re approaching their usage limits.
As part of the ongoing story, for example, users who see their Google Notebook levels limits are almost up could choose to “defer” creating podcast-like audio overviews or “cinematic” video overviews, Shin noted.
Industry observers note that the impending Google Notebook change is yet another example of AI providers clamping down on usage limits for subscription users, particularly when it comes to agentic functions that can quickly burn through AI tokens.
The report highlights that back in April, GitHub Copilot was among the first AI services to switch to a usage-based plan, moving away from allowing a set number of AI requests regardless of their complexity.
As part of the ongoing story, his coverage of artificial intelligence interrogates the most recent LLMs, and how they can be used at work and at home to be best prepared for the AI revolution. “AI is going to change our lives sooner than we think,” Ben writes. “Our best way to adapt is by using it every day.” Ben has been a PCWorld author since 2014, and has covered everything from laptops to security cameras before launching PCWorld’s AI beat. Ben's articles have also appeared in PC Magazine, TIME, Wired, CNET, Men's Fitness, Mobile Magazine, and more. Ben holds a master's degree in English literature. Ben has been writing about consumer technology for more than 20 years, and now focuses his reporting on AI as it relates to the basic human experience.