Impacts of AI on Podcasting 101: What’s Next for Creators?
A brutally honest look at how AI is changing podcasting (and what it means for creators like us).
Early May this year, I was sprawled on my couch with a glass of wine as usual, listening to what I thought was a fascinating podcast about blockchain technology. The hosts had great chemistry, asked thoughtful questions, and explained complex concepts in a way that made sense.
Twenty minutes in, I realized something that made me nearly choke on my drink: it was completely AI-generated.
Welcome to the future, where the impacts of AI on podcasting are no longer sci-fi fantasies but very real changes happening right now.
As someone who’s been in the content creation space for a while (and yes, I’m still camera-shy, so podcasting has always been tempting), I’ve been watching this AI revolution unfold with a mix of excitement and genuine terror.
I’ve spent the last four months diving deep into AI podcasting tools, testing everything from voice clones to fully automated content generation. What I found will probably surprise you; some of this stuff is legitimately game-changing, while other parts are still hot garbage wrapped in shiny marketing.
This isn’t another “AI will replace all humans” doom article or a breathless “AI is magic” hype piece.
This is me, sitting in my studio apartment, telling you exactly what AI can and can’t do for podcasting right now, and what the hell we should expect next.
The Moment Everything Changed (And I Didn’t Even Notice)
The turning point wasn’t some dramatic announcement from Apple or Spotify. It was Google quietly releasing NotebookLM‘s Audio Overview feature in late 2024.
Suddenly, anyone could upload a few documents and get back a completely natural-sounding podcast conversation between two AI hosts.
I tried it with one of my blog posts about the Kinsta vs WPX Hosting comparison post. The result was a stunningly realistic conversation that sounds just like two well-seasoned podcast hosts discussing your articles.
I played it for a fellow blogger, and she asked which podcast it was from. When I told her it was AI-generated, she didn’t believe me until I showed her the interface.
It was clear to me, we weren’t talking about “someday” anymore. The impacts of AI on podcasting were happening right now, and most of us weren’t even paying attention.
What AI Does for Podcasting Right Now
Let’s cut through the marketing bullshit and talk about what AI podcasting tools can do today versus what they promise to do “soon.”
1. Content Generation: Surprisingly Good (With Caveats)
The biggest shock for me was how good AI has gotten at generating podcast content.
A single 30-minute episode can take anywhere from 3 to 10 hours to produce, depending on the level of editing, research, and post-production. But AI tools are changing the game, cutting production time in half and making high-quality audio more accessible.
I tested several AI podcast generators with the same source material – a 3,000-word article about content creation trends. Here’s what happened:
EleveLabs: Created a 15-minute conversation that felt natural and engaging. The hosts asked follow-up questions, made connections I hadn’t considered, and even had moments of humor. It wasn’t perfect, but it was damn impressive.
Other AI Tools: Results were more mixed. Some produced robotic conversations, others nailed the technical aspects but missed the emotional connection that makes podcasts engaging.
2. Voice Cloning: Cool but Creepy
You can also get it to clone your own voice, so an AI version of you can appear in your AI-generated podcast, if you like. I tried voice cloning with one of the newer tools, feeding it about 10 minutes of my recorded voice from various video calls.
The result? Unsettling. It sounded like me, but also not quite like me.
Good enough to fool people who don’t know me well, but not good enough to fool Diane or my mom. There’s something in the cadence and emotional inflection that’s still missing.
But here’s the thing: it’s getting better fast. What took professional voice actors years to master, AI is learning in months.
3. Automated Editing: The Real Game Changer
This is where AI genuinely shines right now. Tools that can automatically remove “ums,” adjust audio levels, and even cut out long pauses are already saving podcasters hours of work.
Such a brilliant tool is Descript. Don’t look further. Descript will edit your podcast like a doc.
Edit podcasts like a doc. Try Descript →
I tested Descript AI-powered editing tools on a rough 45-minute recording. What would have taken me 3-4 hours of manual editing was done in about 20 minutes. The result wasn’t perfect, but it was 90% there – good enough that I only needed to do minor tweaks.
3. Transcription and Show Notes: Finally Solved
Remember when getting accurate transcriptions was expensive and time-consuming?
Those days are over. AI transcription is now so good and cheap that there’s no excuse not to provide transcripts for accessibility.
But it goes beyond basic transcription. AI can now generate:
- Detailed show notes with timestamps
- Key quotes and soundbites
- Social media posts
- Blog post summaries
- Chapter markers
I ran one of my favorite podcast episodes through several AI tools, and the generated show notes were better than what most human assistants would produce.
Tools That Matter (No Fluff)
I’ve tested dozens of AI podcasting tools over the past few months. Most are garbage, some are decent, and a few are genuinely impressive. Here are the ones worth your attention:
Content Creation
- ElevenLabs: The best I have tested so far
- Google NotebookLM: Free, surprisingly good for generating podcast conversations from written content
- Jellypod: More advanced features, voice cloning, but requires a subscription
- Custom voice tools: Expensive but professional-grade results
Editing and Production
- Descript: AI editing with overdub capabilities – genuinely useful
- Adobe Podcast: Free AI enhancement tools that actually work
- Cleanvoice: Specialized in removing filler words and background noise
Post-Production
- Otter.ai: Transcription with speaker identification
- Headliner: AI-generated audiograms and social content
- Castmagic: Comprehensive post-production automation
The key insight? The best AI podcasting tools right now are the ones that augment human creativity rather than trying to replace it entirely.
What This Means for Different Types of Creators
Solo Content Creators (Like Me)
The impacts of AI on podcasting are mostly positive for solo creators. AI can handle the technical stuff I hate – editing, transcription, show notes – while I focus on the creative aspects. It’s like having a really competent assistant who works for $20/month instead of $20/hour.
But there’s a catch: the barrier to entry is now so low that everyone can create professional-sounding podcasts.
Standing out will depend more on unique perspectives and authentic voices than production quality.
Professional Podcasters
For established podcasters with teams, AI is both an opportunity and a threat. It can dramatically reduce production costs and time, but it also means smaller creators can now compete on production quality.
The smart money is on using AI to scale content creation while doubling down on what humans do best – building genuine connections with audiences.
Corporate Podcasts
This is where AI podcasting might have the biggest impact.
Companies can now create high-quality educational content, training materials, and marketing podcasts without hiring full production teams.
I’ve seen early examples of AI-generated corporate podcasts that are actually listenable, which is more than I can say for most human-produced corporate content.
The Dark Side: What Keeps Me Up at Night
The Authenticity Crisis
When anyone can generate a podcast that sounds professional and engaging, how do we distinguish authentic human voices from AI? The blockchain podcast I mentioned earlier wasn’t labeled as AI-generated.
How many AI podcasts am I listening to without knowing it?
This isn’t just about disclosure ethics (though that’s important). It’s about the fundamental value proposition of podcasts – intimate, authentic conversations between real people.
The Race to the Bottom
If AI can produce “good enough” content at near-zero cost, will we see a flood of low-quality AI podcasts designed solely to capture search traffic or ad revenue?
The impacts of AI on podcasting could include a content quality crisis similar to what happened with AI-generated blog posts.
Voice Rights and Consent
Voice cloning technology raises serious questions about consent and ownership.
What happens when someone uses AI to create a podcast “featuring” a celebrity or influencer without permission? The legal framework is nowhere near catching up to the technology.
Job Displacement
Let’s be honest about this: AI is going to eliminate some podcasting jobs. Audio editors, transcriptionists, and show note writers are probably looking at significant career disruption in the next 2-3 years.
Skills That Will Matter in an AI-Powered Podcasting World
After months of testing and thinking about this, I’ve identified the skills that will become more valuable, not less, as AI transforms podcasting:
Editorial Judgment
AI can generate content, but it can’t make strategic decisions about what content serves your audience best.
Understanding your niche, knowing what stories matter, and curating experiences will become premium skills.
Authentic Relationship Building
The more AI-generated content floods the market, the more valuable a genuine human connection becomes.
Podcasters who excel at building real relationships with their audiences will have sustainable competitive advantages.
AI Tool Mastery
This is the big one. Creators who learn to use AI tools effectively will have massive advantages over those who ignore them. It’s not about replacing human creativity, it’s about amplifying it.
Cross-Platform Content Strategy
AI makes it easier to repurpose podcast content across multiple platforms. Understanding how to leverage this for maximum reach and engagement will be crucial.
Predictions: Where This Goes Next (My Best Guesses)
Short-Term (Next 12 Months)
- AI podcast editing becomes standard, not optional
- Voice cloning gets good enough to fool most people
- Platform-specific AI features roll out (Spotify, Apple Podcasts integrating AI tools)
- First major controversy over undisclosed AI-generated podcasts
Medium-Term (2-3 Years)
- Real-time AI co-hosts that can participate in live conversations
- Hyper-personalized podcast content (AI adjusts episodes based on listener preferences)
- AI-powered podcast discovery that actually works
- Industry standards for AI disclosure in podcasting
Long-Term (5+ Years)
- Fully automated podcast networks generating content 24/7
- AI hosts with distinct personalities and loyal followings
- Interactive podcasts where listeners can ask questions in real-time
- Complete transformation of podcast advertising and monetization
How to Prepare for the AI Podcasting Revolution
For Aspiring Podcasters
Don’t wait for “perfect” conditions. Start now with whatever tools you have, but invest time in learning AI-powered production tools. The technical barriers that once kept people out of podcasting are disappearing rapidly.
For Existing Podcasters
Experiment with AI tools, but don’t abandon what makes your show unique. Use AI to handle the boring stuff so you can focus on the creative and relationship aspects that algorithms can’t replicate.
For Podcast Listeners
Develop better media literacy. Learn to recognize AI-generated content and decide for yourself what role you want it to play in your media consumption.
Questions We Need to Ask (And Answer Soon)
The impacts of AI on podcasting raise fundamental questions about the medium itself:
- Should AI-generated podcasts be clearly labeled?
- What happens to podcast advertising when content can be generated at scale?
- How do we preserve the intimate, personal nature of podcasting in an AI-dominated landscape?
- What ethical guidelines should govern voice cloning and AI impersonation?
These aren’t just technical questions; they’re about what we want podcasting to be as a medium.
My Take: Optimistic but Cautious
After months of diving deep into AI podcasting tools, I’m cautiously optimistic about the future. AI has the potential to democratize podcast creation, reduce production barriers, and help creators focus on what they do best.
But it also threatens to flood the market with soulless content and could erode the authenticity that makes podcasting special.
The creators who thrive will be those who use AI as a tool to amplify their human creativity, not replace it. They’ll embrace the efficiency gains while doubling down on authentic connection and unique perspectives.
Bottom Line
The impacts of AI on podcasting aren’t some distant future scenario; they’re happening right now. While I was writing this article, new AI podcasting tools launched, existing ones got better, and the technology continued its relentless march forward.
As creators, we have a choice: we can resist these changes and risk being left behind, or we can embrace them thoughtfully and use them to amplify what makes us uniquely human.
I’m choosing the latter.
I’m learning to use AI tools to handle the stuff I hate so I can spend more time on the stuff I love – connecting with my audience, exploring ideas, and creating content that matters.
The podcasting landscape is changing fast, but the fundamental appeal of the medium, intimate, authentic conversations between real people, doesn’t have to disappear. If anything, as AI-generated content becomes more common, genuine human connections will become more valuable, not less.
The future of podcasting will be shaped by creators who understand both the possibilities and the pitfalls of AI. The question isn’t whether AI will impact podcasting – it’s whether you’ll be ready when it does.
Now, if you’ll excuse me, I need to go figure out whether that true crime podcast I’m obsessed with is actually hosted by humans or incredibly sophisticated AI.
Today, you honestly can’t be sure anymore.
FAQs
Will AI replace human podcasters?
Not entirely, but it will change what human podcasters need to be good at. The most successful podcasters will use AI tools while focusing on uniquely human skills like relationship building and editorial judgment.
How can I tell if a podcast is AI-generated?
Right now, there are usually subtle tells – slightly unnatural speech patterns, lack of genuine emotional reactions, or overly perfect audio quality. But these indicators are getting harder to spot.
Should I start using AI tools for my podcast?
If you’re spending hours on editing, transcription, or show notes, absolutely. Start with the mundane tasks and see how much time you save.
Are AI podcasting tools expensive?
Many are surprisingly affordable. Google’s NotebookLM is free, and most professional AI editing tools cost less than hiring a human editor.
What about copyright and voice rights?
This is the wild west right now. Be very careful about using someone else’s voice without permission, and consider the ethical implications of any AI tool you use.
Will AI-generated podcasts sound fake?
The best ones already don’t. The technology is advancing so quickly that the quality gap between AI and human-generated content is shrinking rapidly.
How do I stay competitive as AI tools improve?
Focus on what makes you uniquely human – your perspectives, experiences, and ability to connect with your audience. Use AI to handle the technical stuff, not the creative stuff.
Should I disclose if I use AI tools?
For full AI generation, absolutely. For AI editing and post-production tools, it’s less clear, but transparency is generally better for building trust with your audience.
