How to Use NotebookLM (Google's New AI Tool)

In recent technological advancements, AI continues to reshape our relationship with information. Most traditional note-taking and information management tasks, such as organizing, formatting, and searching notes, will become obsolete with the introduction of Google's NotebookLM. Built by a team at Google, including innovative thinker Steven Johnson, NotebookLM promises to redefine productivity tools.

Introduction

Google has recently launched a pioneer platform, NotebookLM, to the public. This platform leverages AI to streamline creative workflows and redefine how we manage, organize, and synthesize information.

Getting Started with NotebookLM

Sign-In and Interface

Visit notebook LM at notebooklm.google.com.
Sign in with your Gmail account (limited to users in the U.S., 18+).
The interface highlights notebooks organized for different projects.

Sources Column

Click on the plus button to add sources such as Google Drive documents, PDFs, or text from other apps.
You can select up to 20 documents, with a combined word limit of 4 million words.
NotebookLM generates an abstract or summary for each source added. Multiple documents can be added and interacted with simultaneously.

Interacting with The AI

Conversation Box

The interface allows for conversational interaction, where users can ask AI to create outlines, summaries, or extracts from the sources.
Use pinned cards for important responses above the conversation box for easy reference.

Adding Notes

New notes can be added at any time; these notes can be original content or pasted text.

Use Cases

Understanding Complex Topics

By uploading PDFs or documents, NotebookLM can summarize and simplify difficult academic papers, suggesting expansions and providing specific insight.

Meeting Notes

Upload meeting transcripts to extract main points and essential data without manual review.

Writing Assistance

NotebookLM can help structure drafts, suggest improvements, and rewrite content based on additional authoritative sources.

Ideation for Articles

Aid in brainstorming and outlining new articles by connecting previously read content with related ideas.

Practical Tips

Loading Notes from Readwise

Use Readwise to sync notes and highlights from various sources to Google Drive, enabling NotebookLM to access a wider array of data.

Privacy and Security

NotebookLM ensures that uploaded sources remain private and are not used for model training.

Limitations

While NotebookLM offers powerful features, it has some limitations:

Limited source formats and manual transfer from note-taking apps.
Maximum of 20 sources at a time.
Struggles with precise mathematical calculations and messy PDF formats.

Conclusion

NotebookLM integrates the stages of the creative process, reducing the need to switch between tools and maintaining work momentum. Sign up for a free account at notebooklm.google.com and experience working 'at the speed of thought.'

Keywords

AI
NotebookLM
Information Management
Google Drive
Readwise
Creative Workflow
Note-Taking
Writing Assistance
Privacy
Google
Steven Johnson

FAQ

Q1: What is Google’s NotebookLM?
A1: NotebookLM is a new AI tool by Google designed to assist with note-taking, information management, and creative workflows by streamlining the organization, summarization, and extraction of key points from various sources.

Q2: How do I get started with NotebookLM?
A2: Visit notebooklm.google.com, sign in with your Gmail account, and begin adding your sources such as Google Drive documents, PDFs, or text from other apps.

Q3: Can I use NotebookLM for meeting notes?
A3: Yes, you can upload meeting transcripts and have the AI extract main points and essential data without manual review.

Q4: How does NotebookLM ensure privacy?
A4: NotebookLM maintains privacy by ensuring that uploaded sources remain private and are not used to train the AI model.

Q5: What are the limitations of NotebookLM?
A5: The tool is currently limited to 20 sources at a time, struggles with precise mathematical calculations, and has difficulty with messy PDF formats. Direct connections to note-taking apps like Evernote or Notion are also absent.

Q6: How can NotebookLM assist in writing?
A6: It can help structure drafts, suggest improvements, and combine related ideas from multiple sources into cohesive articles.

Q7: Can I load notes from Readwise into NotebookLM?
A7: Yes, by connecting Readwise to Google Drive, you can sync notes and highlights, enabling broader access to data for NotebookLM.

Q8: Who can access NotebookLM?
A8: The service is currently available to U.S. users who are 18 years or older.