Three key members of Google’s NotebookLM team, including the team lead and a designer, have announced their departure from Google to launch a new stealth-mode startup.
Raiza Martin, the former team lead, shared the news on LinkedIn, revealing that she, along with designer Jason Spielman and engineer Stephen Hughes, felt compelled to pursue what they believe is a significant opportunity to create something transformative in their field.
Currently, the startup operates in complete stealth mode, with only a minimal website that provides no information about its name or mission. It remains uncertain whether the team will focus on ideas NotebookLM became known for—such as AI-generated podcasts and AI-assisted note-taking—or if their project will venture in a different direction entirely.
In a statement, Martin offered limited insights but hinted that the startup’s focus would be consumer-oriented. She emphasized the team’s intention to leverage cutting-edge AI models to develop a product designed to benefit everyday users.
“With frontier models and their capabilities rapidly advancing, there’s a pressing need for thoughtful products that make this technology accessible, useful, and intuitive for regular people,” Martin explained. “Our team will be dedicated to creating a user-first AI product.”
The startup is still in its nascent phase, and no funding announcements have been made yet. Despite this, Martin noted the encouraging support they’ve received from external sources, including fellow founders, investors, academics, and potential collaborators. “The enthusiasm for our vision has been tremendous, which is incredibly motivating for our small team,” she added.
