NotebookLM

Last updated

NotebookLM
Original author Google
Developer Google Labs
Initial release2023;2 years ago (2023)
Stable release(s) [±]
Android2025.09.03 (Build 802852780) / 5 September 2025;2 months ago (2025-09-05) [1] [2]
iOS1.13.0 / 23 September 2025;55 days ago (2025-09-23) [3]
Operating system Android 10+, iOS 17+
Included with Gemini
Website notebooklm.google
An example of an AI-generated conversation by NotebookLM (January 2025)

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.

Contents

Google describes NotebookLM as a "virtual research assistant". [4] The team building the product includes popular science author Steven Johnson and product manager Raiza Martin. [5] [6]

History

NotebookLM was first introduced in May 2023 under the experimental name Project Tailwind, presented as an AI-driven notebook capable of learning from user-provided documents. [7] In 2024, Google rebranded the tool as NotebookLM and began rolling it out more broadly to researchers, students, and enterprise testers. [8]

On October 17, 2024, Google removed the software’s “experimental” status, signaling its transition into a stable product. [9] In December 2024, the company launched a paid tier named NotebookLM Plus for enterprise customers and Gemini Advanced subscribers via Google Workspace and Google Cloud. [10]

Additional developments (2023–2025)

Throughout late 2024 and early 2025, Google continued expanding NotebookLM’s availability and feature set. On February 10, 2025, Google extended NotebookLM Plus to individual users through the Google One AI Premium subscription plan, following its initial enterprise-only launch in December 2024. [11]

As part of its broader AI strategy, Google introduced deeper integrations with Gemini, allowing NotebookLM to leverage multimodal reasoning, audio generation, and improved long-context processing in early 2025. These updates made the platform more competitive within enterprise research, academic workflows, and professional documentation management.

Usage

NotebookLM can generate summaries, explanations, and answers based on content uploaded by users. It analyzes the provided sources to extract key ideas and present them in a simplified and structured manner. [12]

In addition to text files, NotebookLM can process PDFs, Google Docs, websites, and Google Slides. [12] The system can also handle video files, but only when transcripts or subtitles are provided, as it cannot automatically extract transcripts from videos that lack them.

The "Audio Overviews" feature, [13] released in September 2024, converts documents into a conversational, podcast-like discussion between two AI hosts. The feature received attention for its ability to condense complex or lengthy documents into accessible audio summaries. [4] [14] [15]

In December 2024, Google introduced *interactive Audio Overviews*, allowing users to join the AI-generated conversation by tapping the “Join” option. Users can ask questions directly and participate in the discussion with the AI hosts. [16]

In 2025, NotebookLM added a new "Video Overviews" feature, which transforms document summaries into visual slide-style videos combining AI narration, images, diagrams, and structured explanations. [17] Google later expanded both audio and video overviews to more than 80 languages. [18]

In early 2025, Google launched *NotebookLM Plus*, a premium version included in the Google One AI Premium plan. The upgraded tier provides higher usage limits, support for longer documents, collaborative notebooks, and enhanced output controls. [19]

Adoption

The 2024 Spotify Wrapped used this feature to generate podcast-style personalized overviews of individual listening habits. [20]

Initially intended for researchers, NotebookLM has also been adopted by companies and students. [12]

References

  1. "Google NotebookLM". Google Play. Retrieved September 29, 2025.
  2. "Google NotebookLM 2025.09.03.802852780". APKMirror. September 5, 2025. Retrieved September 29, 2025.
  3. "Google NotebookLM". App Store. Retrieved September 29, 2025.
  4. 1 2 Orland, Kyle (September 23, 2024). "Fake AI 'podcasters' are reviewing my book and it's freaking me out". Ars Technica . Retrieved September 25, 2024.
  5. Levy, Steven. "Google's NotebookLM Aims to Be the Ultimate Writing Assistant". Wired . ISSN   1059-1028 . Retrieved October 12, 2024.
  6. Rogers, Reece. "How to Generate an AI Podcast Using Google's NotebookLM". Wired . ISSN   1059-1028 . Retrieved October 12, 2024.
  7. Vincent, James (May 10, 2023). "Google teases Project Tailwind — a prototype AI notebook that learns from your documents". The Verge. Retrieved September 25, 2024.
  8. Pierce, David (September 22, 2024). "The chatbot becomes the teacher". The Verge. Retrieved September 25, 2024.
  9. Li, Abner (October 17, 2024). "Google drops 'experimental' status for NotebookLM". 9to5Google. Retrieved October 19, 2024.
  10. Wiggers, Kyle (December 13, 2024). "Google debuts NotebookLM for enterprises". TechCrunch. Retrieved December 30, 2024.
  11. Jagmeet, Singh (February 10, 2025). "Google expands NotebookLM Plus to individual users". TechCrunch. Retrieved February 10, 2025.
  12. 1 2 3 David, Emilia (September 19, 2024). "Google's NotebookLM evolves: What IT leaders need to know about its enterprise applications". VentureBeat. Retrieved September 25, 2024.
  13. "NotebookLM now lets you listen to a conversation about your sources". Google. September 11, 2024. Retrieved September 25, 2024.
  14. 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.
  15. Boran, Marie (September 23, 2024). "Five productivity hacks using Google's new AI podcast creator". Newsweek. Retrieved September 25, 2024.
  16. "New interactive features in NotebookLM". Google. December 2024. Retrieved December 29, 2024.
  17. "Google's NotebookLM is getting Video Overviews". TechCrunch. May 20, 2025. Retrieved May 21, 2025.
  18. "NotebookLM expands audio and video summaries to more languages". Google. 2025. Retrieved May 21, 2025.
  19. "Google One AI Premium adds NotebookLM Plus". The Verge. 2025. Retrieved January 15, 2025.
  20. Perez, Sarah (December 4, 2024). "Spotify Wrapped 2024 adds an AI podcast powered by Google's NotebookLM". TechCrunch. Retrieved December 29, 2024.