Three members of Google's NotebookLM team, including its team lead Raiza Martin, designer Jason Spielman, and engineer Stephen Hughes, have announced their departure from the tech giant to launch a new stealth startup. The move comes as a surprise, given the team's recent success with AI-generated podcasts and AI-assisted notetaking.

In a LinkedIn post, Martin expressed her excitement about the new venture, stating that she and her co-founders "couldn't shake the feeling that there's a massive opportunity to build something transformative in this space." The startup's website is currently bare-bones, offering no details about its purpose or name, leaving many to speculate about its focus.

While it's unclear whether the startup will build upon the innovations of NotebookLM or explore new areas, Martin hinted in comments to TechCrunch that the startup would be consumer-facing, emphasizing the need for "thoughtful products" that leverage the latest AI models to make the technology accessible and useful to everyday people. This suggests that the startup may focus on developing AI-powered products that cater to a broader audience.

Martin also revealed that the startup is still in its early stages and has not received any funding yet. However, she expressed gratitude for the "tremendous" support the team has received from fellow founders, investors, academics, and potential team members, which has been "really encouraging" for the small team.

The departure of these key team members raises questions about the future of NotebookLM within Google. While the company has not commented on the matter, it's likely that the project will continue to evolve under new leadership. The loss of talent, however, may impact the project's momentum and direction.

The move also highlights the growing trend of AI talent leaving large tech companies to pursue entrepreneurial ventures. As AI technology continues to advance, we can expect to see more startups emerging, driven by innovators who want to harness the power of AI to create transformative products and services.

In conclusion, the departure of the NotebookLM team members to launch a stealth AI startup marks an exciting development in the AI landscape. As the startup begins to take shape, it will be interesting to see how it leverages the latest AI models to create innovative products that benefit everyday people. With the AI industry continuing to evolve at a rapid pace, this new venture is likely to be just one of many exciting developments on the horizon.