From the desk of David Utke
Subj: An AI tool that is actually INSANE – full video tutorial here
The word “insane” gets thrown around a lot when it comes to new AI tools, but I can definitely say for sure that Google Notebook LM is actually insanely useful.
This AI note-taking tool fundamentally allows you to synthesize information from a wide range of sources – PDF files, audio files, website links, slides and YouTube videos.
Then you can interact with all this combined data in a fun way, easy to digest way by creating an AI podcasts of your source material, and/or a video, and to top if off you can ask specific questions about all the information sources you upload for greater understanding.
Yea, it is insane.
Getting Started with Google Notebook LM
Getting started with Google Notebook LM is very simple. Just Google “Google Notebook LM” and it should be the top link at notebooklm.google.com.
You’ll need to be logged into your Google account to access the platform.
Once you’re logged in, you’ll see the welcome page where you can create a new notebook by clicking “Create a new notebook.”
Exploring the Settings
Before diving in, let’s briefly explore the settings. At the top of the page, you’ll find your Google account settings, along with several useful options:
- Notebook Help: Self-explanatory support resources
- Send Feedback: Direct feedback to Google
- Discord: Join the community discussions
- Output Language: Change the language for responses (defaults to English)
- Display Mode: Choose between light mode, dark mode, or follow your device settings
- Upgrade to Plus: Access premium features
The Plus upgrade offers five times more audio overviews, queries, and notebook sources per notebook.
You can also customize the style and tone of your notebooks, collaborate and share with others, and get access to the Gemini app and Flow (their AI tool for creating cinematic videos), plus increased storage limits.
However, if you’re new to the tool, the free version is totally fine to start with.
Uploading Sources: The Foundation of Your Research
File Upload Options
Once you create your new notebook, you can upload sources as needed. The platform accepts various formats:
- PDF files
- Text documents
- Markdown files
- Audio files (MP3)
There are upload limits to be aware of. Files need to be under 200 megabytes in size. For most documents you’ll be uploading, this shouldn’t be a significant issue.
But if you have an ebook you want to upload, it may be best to upload it your Google drive then select said ebook from there if it’s greater than 200mb.
Additional Source Options
Beyond direct file uploads, you can add sources from:
- Google Drive: Access any documents stored in your Google Drive. Useful as a work-a-round if your source material is greater than 200mb.
- Website Links: Add URLs directly (only visible text will be imported however).
- Paste Text: Copy and paste text directly into the platform.
When adding website URLs, you can add multiple URLs by separating them with a space or new line.
The Discover Feature
If you’re not sure where to find additional sources, the “Discover” button is very useful. Click on it and describe something you’d like to learn more about.
The AI will suggest relevant sources that you can import directly into your notebook. This feature is particularly helpful when you’re exploring a new topic and want to build a comprehensive source library quickly.
Asking Questions: Interacting with Your Sources
Once you have sources uploaded, you can start asking questions directly. The platform will provide detailed responses based solely on the source material you’ve uploaded.
You’ll notice small numbers throughout the responses. These are citations that link back to specific sources, showing you exactly where the information comes from.
You can mouse over these citations to see quick previews of the source material without having to click through to full documents. This makes it easy to verify information and explore additional context as you’re researching.
The question-and-answer functionality works similarly to other generative AI tools (ChatGPT, Grok, Gemini etc), but it’s specifically trained on your uploaded sources, making the responses highly relevan, traceable and focused.
Creating Audio Overviews: AI-Generated Podcasts
Turn your source material into an AI podcast. This feature by far is what makes Google NotebookLM so amazing. The podcast “the deep dive” features a male and female presenter.
They speak in a very natural way with pauses and go back and forth discussing your source material. So if you have some dense material you want to break down (research paper, anything pier reviewed, a comprehensive PHD thesis, your favorite book) then you’ll find Notebook LM up to the task.
Under the “Studio” section, you’ll find the “Audio Overview” feature, which generates an AI podcast based on your sources. It creates a conversation between a man and a woman discussing your uploaded content in natural language.
Customization Options
You can customize your audio overview in several ways:
- Length: Choose shorter, longer, or default duration.
- Focus: Tell the AI hosts to focus on specific sources if you want targeted discussion.
- Interactive Mode: Join the conversation and interrupt the AI to ask specific questions.
The generation process takes several minutes so be patient, but the result is a comprehensive podcast that you can listen to while doing other activities.
The podcast also has an interactive mode that allows you to “call in” and ask questions. That’s right, you can literally interrupt the AI hosts mid-conversation to ask follow-up questions or request clarification on specific points.
Managing Audio Content
Once generated, you can rename, download, share, or delete your audio overviews. This makes it easy to create multiple versions focused on different aspects of your research or share insights with colleagues.
Video Overview: Visual Content Creation
The video overview function works similarly to the audio feature.
You can customize what the AI hosts should focus on . For example, “present this to a book club” or “help me review for a quiz.”
Currently, the video functionality produces content that’s somewhat basic.
Essentially text and slides with narration. In my personal opinion, it’s kind of cookie-cutter at this time, though I’m sure this will improve significantly as the technology develops.
Like audio overviews, you can download, share, rename, and delete video content as needed.
Mind Maps: Visual Information Architecture
The mind map feature generates an AI-powered visual representation of your sources and their relationships. This typically takes about a minute to generate and provides an interactive way to explore your content.
You can click on different nodes to expand topics and drill down into specific areas. When you click on a particular section of the mind map, it takes you to the chat function and begins explaining that specific topic in detail. This creates a seamless way to move from high-level overview to detailed exploration.
The mind map is particularly useful for understanding complex relationships between different concepts in your source material and provides a more visual way to navigate your research.
Reports: Comprehensive Documentation
Google Notebook LM can generate four types of reports based on your sources:
Briefing Document
This provides a high-level overview – essentially a TL;DR for all your different sources. It’s detailed but gives you the essential information without requiring you to read through everything.
Study Guide
The study guide includes key concepts, quiz questions, and short answer prompts. This is incredibly useful if you’re trying to master a topic or prepare for an exam. It identifies the most important aspects and ideas for developing a strong understanding of your subject matter.
FAQ
Generates frequently asked questions and comprehensive answers based on your source material. This format makes it easy to quickly find specific information or understand common points of confusion.
Timeline
Creates a detailed chronological overview of events, developments, or concepts covered in your sources. The timeline can be incredibly comprehensive, sometimes going back billions of years depending on your topic, and includes a cast of characters explaining who’s who and why they’re significant.
Data Synthesis Tool Rather Than Traditional Notebook
Google Notebook LM isn’t really like a traditional, digital notebook. It’s more accurately described as a data synthesis tool. A self-learning platform to understand and organize information from a wide range of sources into an easily digestible format.
For actual note taking, I would stick to something like Notion, which is more of a workspace/notebook. Notebook LM for what it is, is quite powerful and it does live up to the hype.
What I particularly appreciate is the audio overview feature, having a podcast with natural language conversation between two people, with the ability to interrupt and ask questions, is genuinely helpful for learning complex topics.
The discover feature for finding additional sources is also excellent for expanding your research and knowledge base systematically.
Conclusion
So I’ll leave it there. If you’ve not heard of NotebookLM then give it a go. Upload your favorite book, or ask it to source videos on a specific topic you want to know more about.
Then have it create a podcast you can listen to whenever or where ever and ask follow up questions to deeper understanding.
Till next time, your man
-David
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