I Never Knew How Much I Needed NotebookLM. Here’s How I Use Google’s Information Alchemist

I not too long ago revisited Google’s NotebookLM and I used to be impressed with how far it is come. It was already good earlier than, however latest updates have have me hooked in and I’ll preserve coming again. Powered by Google’s Gemini AI, it could possibly break down complicated topics into a straightforward to grasp format and even allow you to brainstorm new concepts. For those who’re a chaotic notetaker like me, even higher: NotebookLM will allow you to make sense of your nonsense.

This is not simply Google Hold filled with AI, neither is it only a chatbot that may take notes. It is each and neither. As an alternative of asking inquiries to Gemini, just for it to seek out a solution from the ether of the web, NotebookLM will solely search by way of the sources that you just present it. It is a useless easy idea that seems like some of the sensible makes use of of AI, giving solution to the proper examine buddy for courses or work. And Google did not cease there. 

Now it could possibly achieve this way more, and can reward your poking round to see what it could possibly do for you. And options like its spectacular Audio Overviews have since trickled down into Gemini itself, permitting it for use in a a lot wider set of Google’s merchandise. With Google I/O 2025 simply across the nook, we would not be stunned if much more options have been added. 

Beneath, we’ll cowl a few of NotebookLM’s most attention-grabbing options and use circumstances that will help you get began. 

For extra, do not miss our hands-on with Gemini Reside’s digital camera mode: AI with eyes.

What’s NotebookLM?

NotebookLM is a Gemini-powered note-taking and analysis assistant device that can be utilized in a large number of the way. All of it begins with the sources you feed it, whether or not they’re webpage URLs, YouTube movies or audio clips, permitting you to tug a number of sources collectively right into a cohesive bundle and convey some group to your scattered ideas or notes. 

The obvious use case for NotebookLM is utilizing it for varsity or work. Consider it — you’ve got stored up with numerous courses and typed notes down for each one and even maybe recorded some lectures. Sifting by way of every little thing individually can ultimately get you to some semblance of understanding, however what for those who may get them to work collectively? 

As soon as you’ve got uploaded your sources, Gemini will get to work to create an general abstract of the fabric. From there, you possibly can start asking Gemini questions on particular subjects on the sources and data from the sources will probably be displayed in an easy-to-understand format. This alone could also be sufficient for some individuals simply trying to get essentially the most out of their notes, however that is actually simply scratching the floor.

Accessible for desktop and cellular

NotebookLM has been obtainable for some time now on the desktop, however as of Monday, it is also obtainable as an iOS and Android app, so now you can entry your entire notebooks in your cellphone with out having to make use of a cellular browser.

Damaged right into a three-pane format, NotebookLM consists of Supply, Chat and Studio panels. Each the Supply and Studio panels are collapsible, so you possibly can have a full-screen chat expertise for those who choose. 

Whereas the Supply and Chat panels are fairly self-explanatory, the Studio panel is the place magic can occur (although a few of the options can be created instantly from the Chat panel). That is the place you will get essentially the most out of your NotebookLM expertise. Learn on for some highlights of what you are able to do. 

These accustomed to the desktop expertise will really feel proper at residence with the brand new cellular apps. The streamlined app will can help you swap between the Supply, Chat and Studio panels by way of a menu on the backside. Whenever you go to view that reveals your entire notebooks, you may see tabs for Current, Shared, Title, and Downloaded. Upon testing the app, I could not discover a solution to share a pocket book, however it’s greater than doubtless one thing we’ll hear about quickly. Extra on that beneath.

Audio Overviews

For those who did not hear about NotebookLM when it was first introduced, you doubtless did when Audio Overviews have been launched for it. After you have a minimum of one supply uploaded, you possibly can then choose to generate an Audio Overview, which is able to present a “deep dive” on the supply materials. These overviews are created by none apart from Gemini, and it is not only a fast abstract of your materials in audio format — it is a full-blown podcast with two “hosts” that break down complicated subjects into easy-to-understand items of data. They’re extremely efficient, too, usually asking one another inquiries to dismantle sure subjects. 

The size of an Audio Overview will fluctuate relying on how a lot materials there may be to go over and the complexity of the subject — although I am certain there are different elements at play. In my testing, a really brief piece of textual content created a five-minute audio clip, whereas two lengthier and extra dense Google Docs paperwork I uploaded created an 18-minute Overview. 

You’ll be able to work together together with your AI podcasters

It will get even higher. Final December, NotebookLM bought a brand new design and new methods to work together with Audio Overviews. The customise button lets you information the dialog in order that key factors are coated. Kind in your directive after which generate your Audio Overview. 

Now, if you wish to make this characteristic much more interactive, you possibly can select the Interactive mode, which remains to be in beta, to hitch the dialog. The clip will play, and in case you have a specific query in response to one thing that is stated, you possibly can click on the be part of button. When you do, the audio system will pause and acknowledge your presence and ask you to chime in with ideas or questions, and you will get a reply. 

I wished to strive one thing slightly completely different, so I threw within the lyrics of a music as the one supply, and the AI podcast duo started to dismantle the motivations and feelings behind the phrases. I used the be part of characteristic to level out a element within the lyrics they did not contact on, and the 2 started to dissect what my suggestion meant within the context of the writing. They then started linking the theme to different parts of the textual content. It was spectacular to look at: They dealt with the emotional weight of the music so properly, and tactfully at that. 

Thoughts Maps

I might heard attention-grabbing issues about NotebookLM’s Thoughts Map characteristic, however I wished to go in blind after I tried it out, so I did a separate take a look at. I took roughly 1,500 phrases of Homer’s Odyssey and made that my solely supply. I then clicked the Thoughts Map button, and inside seconds, an interactive and categorical breakdown of the textual content was displayed for me to poke round in. 

Most of the broken-down sections had subsections for deeper dives, a few of which have been devoted to single strains for dissection. Clicking on a class or end-point of the map will open the chat with a prefilled immediate. 

I selected to dive into the road, “now with out treatment,” and as soon as clicked, the chat portion of NotebookLM reopened with the prefilled immediate, “Talk about what these sources say about Now with out treatment, within the bigger context of [the subsection] Different (worse).” The total line was displayed, together with who stated it, what it was in response to and any motivations (or different references) for why the road was stated within the textual content. 

Research guides and extra 

If the mixture of all that Audio Overviews and Thoughts Maps may do seems like every little thing a scholar may want for the proper examine buddy, NotebookLM has just a few different options that may solidify it in that place. 

Research guides

After you’ve got uploaded a supply, you possibly can create a fast examine information based mostly on the fabric that may routinely present a doc with a quiz, potential essay questions, a glossary of key phrases and solutions for the quiz on the backside. And if you would like, you possibly can even convert the examine information right into a supply on your pocket book.

FAQs

Whether or not you are utilizing it for varsity or need to create a FAQ web page on your web site, the NotebookLM button generates a sequence of doubtless widespread questions based mostly in your sources. 

Timeline

For those who’re in search of a play-by-play type of timeline, it is constructed proper in. Making a timeline for the Odyssey excerpt broke down fundamental occasions in a bulleted checklist and positioned them based mostly on the instances talked about within the materials. If an occasion takes place at an unspecified time, it can seem on the prime of the timeline, stating this. A solid of characters for reference can be generated beneath the timeline of occasions. 

Briefing doc

The briefing doc is simply what it seems like, providing you with a fast snapshot of the important thing themes and vital occasions to get somebody on top of things. This can embrace particular quotes from the supply and their location. A abstract of the fabric can be created on the backside of the doc. 

How NotebookLM actually ‘offered’ me

I already actually appreciated NotebookLM’s idea and execution throughout its 1.0 days, and revisiting the brand new options solely strengthened my appreciation for it. My testing was largely for enjoyable and to see how this device can flex, however utilizing it after I “wanted” it helped me actually get an concept of how highly effective it may be, even for easy issues. 

Throughout a product briefing, I did my typical note-taking: Open a Google Doc, begin typing in fragmented ideas on key factors, and hope I may translate what I meant after I wanted to refer again to them. I knew I might additionally obtain an official press launch, so I wasn’t (too) anxious about it, however I wished to place NotebookLM to the take a look at in a real-world scenario after I was utilizing it for actual — and never simply tinkering, when almost something appears spectacular when it does what you inform it to. 

I made a decision to create a brand new pocket book and make my crude notes (which regarded like a sequence of dangerous haikus at first look) the one supply, simply to see what got here out on the opposite finish. Not solely did NotebookLM fill within the blanks, however the general abstract learn virtually in addition to the press launch I acquired the next day. I used to be impressed. It felt like alchemy — NotebookLM took some pretty unintelligible language and did not simply flip it into one thing satisfactory, however moderately, a fairly spectacular description. 

Humorous sufficient, I’ve since turn into a extra thorough note-taker, however I am relieved to know I’ve one thing that may save the day if I would like it to. 

Video Overviews and extra could possibly be on the way in which

Earlier this month, the official NotebookLM X account teased that new options could be introduced throughout Google I/O this 12 months, however little else. Fortunately, we would have the reply now. 

Due to some sleuthing from Testing Catalog, NotebookLM might obtain an improve to Audio Overviews with Video Overviews, giving extra kind to your podcast duo that may focus on absolutely anything you throw at it. The characteristic could possibly be powered by Veo, Google’s AI video generator, which is already obtainable in Gemini instantly.

Additionally noticed was an Editor’s Picks part that hints at the potential for making your notebooks publicly obtainable if you would like, but additionally to get entry to a curated checklist of a few of the finest notebooks from the NotebookLM workforce. 

For those who want extra from NotebookLM, contemplate upgrading

Most people might by no means have the necessity to pay for NotebookLM, because the free characteristic is strong sufficient. However for those who’re utilizing it for work and wish to have the ability to add extra sources or the choice to share your pocket book with a number of individuals, NotebookLM Plus is price contemplating. It offers you extra of every little thing whereas introducing extra customization, extra privateness and security measures in addition to analytics. 

For extra, do not miss Google’s AI Mode is increasing to everybody.