I lately 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 hold coming again. Powered by Google’s Gemini AI, it may break down advanced topics into a straightforward to grasp format and even assist you brainstorm new concepts. If you are a chaotic notetaker like me, even higher: NotebookLM will assist you make sense of your nonsense.This is not simply Google Keep full of AI, neither is it only a chatbot that may take notes. It’s each and neither. Instead of asking inquiries to Gemini, just for it to search out a solution from the ether of the web, NotebookLM will solely search by way of the sources that you simply present it. It’s a useless easy idea that seems like one of the vital sensible makes use of of AI, giving technique to the right research buddy for courses or work. And Google did not cease there. Now it may achieve this far more, and can reward your poking round to see what it may 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. Below, we’ll cowl a few of NotebookLM’s most attention-grabbing options and use circumstances that can assist you get began. For extra, do not miss our hands-on with Gemini Live’s digicam mode: AI with eyes.What is NotebookLM?NotebookLM is a Gemini-powered note-taking and analysis assistant device that can be utilized in a large number of the way. It all 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 package deal and produce some group to your scattered ideas or notes. The most evident use case for NotebookLM is utilizing it for varsity or work. Think of it — you have saved up with numerous courses and typed notes down for each one and even maybe recorded some lectures. Sifting by way of all the pieces individually can ultimately get you to some semblance of understanding, however what in the event you might get them to work collectively? Once you have uploaded your sources, Gemini will get to work to create an general abstract of the fabric. From there, you may start asking Gemini questions on particular subjects on the sources and knowledge from the sources shall be displayed in an easy-to-understand format. This alone could also be sufficient for some individuals simply seeking to get essentially the most out of their notes, however that is actually simply scratching the floor.Best on the desktop browser, with apps on the best way NotebookLM’s three panel format NotebookLM/Screenshot by Blake StimacNotebookLM was initially designed for the desktop browser and that is at present one of the simplest ways to expertise it. You can entry it out of your cellular browser however it may be cumbersome. There’s at present no app out there for NotebookLM however one is near launching. In truth, you may preregister to be notified when it is out there for iOS and Android units proper now. Broken right into a three-pane format, NotebookLM consists of Source, Chat and Studio panels. Both the Source and Studio panels are collapsible, so you may have a full-screen chat expertise in the event you so select. While the Source and Chat panels are fairly self-explanatory, the Studio panel is the place magic can occur, (although among the options may also be created immediately from the Chat panel). This is the place you may get essentially the most out of your NotebookLM expertise. Below are some highlights of what you are able to do. Audio OverviewsIf you did not hear about NotebookLM when it was first introduced, you doubtless did when Audio Overviews have been launched for it. Once you have got a minimum of as soon as supply uploaded, you may then decide to generate an Audio Overview, which can present a “deep dive” on the supply materials. These overviews are created by none aside 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 advanced subjects into straightforward to grasp items of knowledge. 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’s to go over and the complexity of the subject — although I’m positive there are different elements at play. In my testing, a really brief piece of textual content created a 5-minute audio clip, the place two lengthier and extra dense Google Docs I uploaded created a 18-minute Overview. You can work together together with your AI podcastersIt will get even higher. Last December, NotebookLM bought a brand new design and new methods to work together with Audio Overviews. If you need to information the dialog in order that key factors are lined, the customise button will will let you just do that. Type in your directive after which generate your Audio Overview. Now, if you wish to make this function much more interactive, you may select the Interactive mode, which remains to be in beta, to hitch the dialog. The clip will play and in case you have a selected query in response to one thing that is stated, you may click on the be a part of button. Once 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 somewhat 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 a part of function 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. Mind Maps Generating a Mind Map is only one of a number of highly effective options from NotebookLM Google/Screenshot by Blake StimacI’d heard attention-grabbing issues about NotebookLM’s Mind Map function, 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 Mind Map button and inside seconds an interactive and categorical breakdown of the textual content was displayed for me to poke round in. Many of the damaged down sections had subsections for deeper dives, a few of which have been devoted to single traces 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 without remedy” and as soon as clicked, the chat portion of NotebookLM reopened with the prefilled immediate of, “Discuss what these sources say about Now without remedy, in the larger context of [the subsection] Alternative (worse).” The full line was displayed, together with who it was stated by, what it was in response to and any motivations (or different references) for why the road was stated within the textual content. Study guides and extra If the mixture of all that Audio Overviews and Mind Maps might do appears like all the pieces a pupil would possibly want for the right research buddy, NotebookLM has just a few different options that may solidify it in that place. Study guidesAfter you have uploaded a supply, you may create a fast research information based mostly on the fabric that may mechanically present a doc with a quiz, potential essay questions, a glossary of key phrases and solutions for the quiz on the backside. And in order for you, you may even convert the research information right into a supply to your pocket book.FAQsWhether you are utilizing it for varsity or need to create a FAQ web page to your web site, there is a NotebookLM button that may generate a collection of doubtless frequent questions based mostly in your sources. TimelineIf you are on the lookout for a play by play kind of timeline, it is constructed proper in. Creating a timeline for the Odyssey excerpt broke down most important occasions in a bulleted listing and positioned them based mostly on the occasions talked about within the materials. If an occasion takes place at an unspecified time, it is going to seem on the prime of the timeline stating so. A forged of characters for reference can also be generated beneath the timeline of occasions. Briefing docThe briefing doc is simply what it appears like, providing you with a fast snapshot of the important thing themes and vital occasions to get somebody in control. This will embody particular quotes from the supply and their location. A abstract of the fabric can also be created on the backside of the doc. If you want extra from NotebookLM, take into account upgradingMost people might by no means have the necessity to pay for NotebookLM, because the free function is strong sufficient. But in the event you’re utilizing it for work and want 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 all the pieces whereas introducing extra customization, extra privateness and safety features in addition to analytics. For extra, do not miss Google’s AI Mode is increasing to everybody.
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