NotebookLM is too good not to try. This is what you need to know. Joseph Maldonado/CNET
Of the countless AI tools available today, NotebookLM remains virtually one-of-a-kind. As a Google app that uses AI to help you work with your own source material -- and only the stuff you provide it -- it's essentially without peer. Similar tools still lack either function, polish or both, giving this Google option no equal, at least not yet.
NotebookLM is an AI research assistant that lets you ask questions and create deliverables from the data that you feed it. Unlike a typical AI chatbot, NotebookLM relies entirely on your sources, not random information from the internet or reams of questionable training data.
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This use of AI is valuable and in demand. For instance, Matthew McConaughey said last year on a podcast that he wanted a personal LLM that was fed all of his books, notes and other personal information so he could ask questions and get answers without any external influence. This is essentially what NotebookLM does.
Google first demoed what was then known as Project Tailwind at its I/O developer conference in 2023, calling it an AI-first notebook. It was able to answer questions based on the documents that were uploaded to it and create a study guide for the material automatically. While impressive in its own right, that is about as basic as NotebookLM gets today.
Since its official release in 2023, Google has given NotebookLM significantly more features, making it one of the best tools for learning and doing more with your data. It can be used in a variety of ways, making it flexible and appealing for just about anyone who uses it.
What is NotebookLM?
NotebookLM organizes your chaotic notes and allows you to pull specific threads out of dense information. What makes NotebookLM so interesting is what it can do with your source material once it has it.
You can chat with Gemini about the material to get answers. NotebookLM can also transform your sources into unexpected final products. It can give you answers via written text or create something entirely new, such as audio or video overviews, slide decks, study guides and more. Depending on your needs and use case, NotebookLM can truly be an all-in-one AI tool.
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