NotebookLM

What is NotebookLM?

NotebookLM is Google's AI research notebook. You upload your own material (PDFs, notes, websites, YouTube videos) and it becomes an expert on just that material. Ask questions and it answers using only your sources, with links to the exact place each answer came from.

Think of it as a study partner who has read all your notes.

What makes it special

• Uses only your sources: fewer made-up answers
• Shows where answers come from: click to see the exact passage
• Audio Overview: turns your notes into a podcast-style conversation between two AI hosts
• Study tools built in: flashcards, quizzes, mind maps and study guides

What you can do with it

• Understand long documents: ask questions about a big PDF
• Revise smarter: create flashcards and quizzes from your notes
• Learn on the go: listen to an audio summary while travelling
• See the big picture: create a mind map of a topic
• Combine sources: compare several articles side by side

Get started in 3 steps

1. Go to notebooklm.google.com and sign in with your Google account
2. Click Create new and upload PDFs, paste links or add YouTube videos
3. Ask questions in the chat, or click Audio Overview, Mind Map or Flashcards

Try this today

• Upload a long report and ask: "What are the 5 most important points?"
• Add 3 articles on one topic and ask: "Where do these sources agree and disagree?"
• Click Audio Overview and listen to your notes as a podcast

Good to know

• Only knows what you give it: it won't search the web unless you add sources
• Private notebooks: your notebooks are visible only to you unless you share them
• Free to use: the free version is generous; Google's paid plans raise the limits

Quick challenge

Upload a chapter you're studying and listen to its Audio Overview. It's surprisingly fun!