NotebookLM Google NotebookLM is a research and note taking online tool developed by Google Labs that uses artificial int

NotebookLM (Google NotebookLM) is a research and note-taking online tool developed by Google Labs that uses artificial intelligence (AI), specifically Google Gemini, to assist users in interacting with their documents.

NotebookLM

Original author(s)	Google
Developer(s)	Google Labs
Initial release	2023
Included with	Gemini
Website	notebooklm.google

An example of an AI-generated conversation by NotebookLM (January 2025)

History

NotebookLM was initially launched in 2023 as "Project Tailwind".

The team building the product includes popular science author Steven Johnson and product manager Raiza Martin.

In mid-October 2024, Google removed the "experimental" status/badge for the software.

In December 2024, Google launched the paid version of NotebookLM, called NotebookLM Plus, to enterprises and paid Gemini subscribers.

On February 10, 2025, Google expanded NotebookLM Plus to individual users through the Google One AI Premium subscription plan. This expansion followed its initial release nearly two months earlier, when it was made available to enterprises via Google Cloud and Google Workspace. Initially offered on a limited basis, NotebookLM Plus now provides enhanced features designed to improve research and organization.

Usage

NotebookLM can generate summaries, explanations, and answers based on content uploaded by users. It also includes "Audio Overviews", which summarize documents in a conversational, podcast-like format.

In addition to text files, NotebookLM can process PDFs, Google Docs, websites, and Google Slides. It can only process videos that have a transcript or subtitles attached as it cannot extract transcripts from videos that lack it.

The "Audio Overviews" feature, released in September 2024, gained media attention for its ability to condense complex documents into podcast-style audio files.

Adoption

Google describes NotebookLM as a "virtual research assistant".

The 2024 Spotify Wrapped used this feature to generate podcast-style personalized overviews of individual listening habits.

Initially intended for researchers, NotebookLM has also been adopted by companies and students.

References

Pierce, David (September 22, 2024). "The chatbot becomes the teacher". The Verge. Retrieved September 25, 2024.
Vincent, James (May 10, 2023). "Google teases Project Tailwind — a prototype AI notebook that learns from your documents". The Verge. Retrieved September 25, 2024.
Levy, Steven. "Google's NotebookLM Aims to Be the Ultimate Writing Assistant". Wired. ISSN 1059-1028. Retrieved October 12, 2024.
Rogers, Reece. "How to Generate an AI Podcast Using Google's NotebookLM". Wired. ISSN 1059-1028. Retrieved October 12, 2024.
Li, Abner (October 17, 2024). "Google drops 'experimental' status for NotebookLM". 9to5Google. Retrieved October 19, 2024.
Wiggers, Kyle (December 13, 2024). "Google debuts NotebookLM for enterprises". TechCrunch. Retrieved December 30, 2024.
Jagmeet, Singh (February 10, 2025). "Google expands NotebookLM Plus to individual users". techcrunch.com. Retrieved February 10, 2025.
David, Emilia (September 19, 2024). "Google's NotebookLM evolves: What IT leaders need to know about its enterprise applications". VentureBeat. Retrieved September 25, 2024.
"NotebookLM now lets you listen to a conversation about your sources". Google. September 11, 2024. Retrieved September 25, 2024.
Orland, Kyle (September 23, 2024). "Fake AI 'podcasters' are reviewing my book and it's freaking me out". Ars Technica. Retrieved September 25, 2024.
Malik, Aisha (September 11, 2024). "Google's AI note-taking app NotebookLM can now explain complex topics to you out loud". TechCrunch. Retrieved September 25, 2024.
Boran, Marie (September 23, 2024). "Five productivity hacks using Google's new AI podcast creator". Newsweek. Retrieved September 25, 2024.
Perez, Sarah (December 4, 2024). "Spotify Wrapped 2024 adds an AI podcast powered by Google's NotebookLM". TechCrunch. Retrieved December 29, 2024.

External links

Official website
"How NotebookLM Was Made" episode of the Latent Space podcast

[:1-1] Pierce, David (September 22, 2024). "The chatbot becomes the teacher". The Verge. Retrieved September 25, 2024.

[2] Vincent, James (May 10, 2023). "Google teases Project Tailwind — a prototype AI notebook that learns from your documents". The Verge. Retrieved September 25, 2024.

[3] Levy, Steven. "Google's NotebookLM Aims to Be the Ultimate Writing Assistant". Wired. ISSN 1059-1028. Retrieved October 12, 2024.

[4] Rogers, Reece. "How to Generate an AI Podcast Using Google's NotebookLM". Wired. ISSN 1059-1028. Retrieved October 12, 2024.

[5] Li, Abner (October 17, 2024). "Google drops 'experimental' status for NotebookLM". 9to5Google. Retrieved October 19, 2024.

[6] Wiggers, Kyle (December 13, 2024). "Google debuts NotebookLM for enterprises". TechCrunch. Retrieved December 30, 2024.

[7] Jagmeet, Singh (February 10, 2025). "Google expands NotebookLM Plus to individual users". techcrunch.com. Retrieved February 10, 2025.

[:0-8] David, Emilia (September 19, 2024). "Google's NotebookLM evolves: What IT leaders need to know about its enterprise applications". VentureBeat. Retrieved September 25, 2024.

[9] "NotebookLM now lets you listen to a conversation about your sources". Google. September 11, 2024. Retrieved September 25, 2024.

[:2-10] Orland, Kyle (September 23, 2024). "Fake AI 'podcasters' are reviewing my book and it's freaking me out". Ars Technica. Retrieved September 25, 2024.

[11] Malik, Aisha (September 11, 2024). "Google's AI note-taking app NotebookLM can now explain complex topics to you out loud". TechCrunch. Retrieved September 25, 2024.

[12] Boran, Marie (September 23, 2024). "Five productivity hacks using Google's new AI podcast creator". Newsweek. Retrieved September 25, 2024.

[13] Perez, Sarah (December 4, 2024). "Spotify Wrapped 2024 adds an AI podcast powered by Google's NotebookLM". TechCrunch. Retrieved December 29, 2024.