An Update on the Evolution of AI-Powered Conversations
When I first introduced The Personas Project in October 2024, I shared my vision of using AI to create conversational access to decades of professional experience, teaching materials, and personal stories. The original implementation used AnythingLLM and Ollama—powerful tools that demonstrated the concept worked.
Since then, Google has significantly advanced NotebookLM with features that align perfectly with my "dinner conversation, not the library" philosophy. NotebookLM's Audio Overview podcasts, improved chat interface, and public sharing capabilities offer a more engaging and accessible experience for visitors.
The New Workspace Series
I'm rebuilding the Personas workspaces on NotebookLM, starting with:
- "Ask the Professor" (available now) - Teaching materials, Crisis Informatics, and IT Leadership & Management insights
- "Ask the CIO" (coming soon) - IT strategy, leadership, and professional experience
- "Ask the DR Tech" (coming soon) - Disaster response technology and humanitarian innovation
- "Ask Grandpa" (private, invitation-only) - Personal stories and family wisdom
Try "Ask the Professor" on NotebookLM
The new workspace brings together years of teaching materials from courses on Crisis Informatics and IT Leadership & Management. It includes classroom discussions, guest speaker insights, student perspectives, and practical applications of theory.
How to Get the Most from This Resource:
- Start with the Audio Overview - Click Studio Audio button for the Audio Overview podcast. NotebookLM created an engaging 19 minute conversation between two AI hosts who synthesize the key themes. It's like listening in on a dinner conversation about the content—the perfect introduction.
- Then explore through chat - After listening to the overview, use the chat to ask questions, dive deeper into topics, or explore connections between concepts.
Starter Questions to Try:
- What are the core principles of crisis informatics and how do they apply to disaster response?
- What lessons from IT leadership are most relevant for today's technology leaders?
- How can "conversations as a way of knowing" transform organizational learning?
- How can humanitarian disaster response lessons be applied to IT management?
- How do you build effective communication practices during emergencies?
- What are the key differences between managing technology and leading with technology?
Access "Ask the Professor"
NotebookLM Workspace: https://notebooklm.google.com/notebook/1217ce8a-eab1-48d5-a6aa-d94681487b76
You'll need a Google account to access the workspace. Viewers can listen to the podcast, ask questions, and explore generated content, but cannot edit the original sources.
Why NotebookLM?
The transition to NotebookLM offers several advantages:
- Audio Overview podcasts provide an accessible entry point that synthesizes complex material into conversational format
- Public sharing via simple links makes the workspaces easier to access
- Improved chat interface creates more natural, contextual conversations
- Generated artifacts like study guides, FAQs, and briefing documents offer multiple ways to engage with the content
What's Next?
I'll be releasing "Ask the CIO" and "Ask the DR Tech" workspaces in the coming weeks. Each represents a different facet of my professional experience and will serve different audiences—from IT leaders to disaster response practitioners to students.
"Ask Grandpa" will remain private, shared by invitation only with family and close friends who want to explore personal stories and family history.
Your Feedback Matters
Please try the workspace and share your thoughts. What works well? What could be better? Your insights help me refine this approach and determine whether it truly delivers on the vision of creating meaningful, accessible conversations with accumulated experience.
Let the conversation begin—this time, with better tools for the journey.
"The postings on this site are my own and don't necessarily represent positions, strategies or opinions of any of the organizations with which I am associated."
