NotebookLM Just Got HUGE! 5 Game-Changing Features

## Why NotebookLM 2.0 is a game changer [(00:00:00)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Nl6hz2nYFA&t=0s) - [[NotebookLM]] is a tool that can help with understanding and completing tasks by providing background information and context, which can be time-consuming to gather manually, especially in a busy workday [(00:00:16)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Nl6hz2nYFA&t=16s). - The platform was initially released as an experimental AI tool from [[Google]], and it has since developed into a more comprehensive tool with new features [(00:00:30)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Nl6hz2nYFA&t=30s). - NotebookLM is unique and different from other AI tools like [[ChatGPT]], and it is described as a tool for understanding, making it the ultimate tool for understanding things [(00:01:06)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Nl6hz2nYFA&t=66s). - The tool has the potential to save time and increase productivity by providing features such as audio overviews, which can help users quickly grasp complex information [(00:01:19)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Nl6hz2nYFA&t=79s). - The latest version of NotebookLM, version 2.0, has introduced five new game-changing features that can further enhance its capabilities and usefulness [(00:00:42)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Nl6hz2nYFA&t=42s). ## 1. Audio Overviews: AI-generated podcasts [(00:01:22)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Nl6hz2nYFA&t=82s) - Notebook LM is a platform that allows users to generate conversations on demand, similar to stumbling upon a podcast with engaging hosts explaining a topic, and it can be accessed at [[NotebookLM | notebooklm.goole.com]] [(00:01:23)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Nl6hz2nYFA&t=83s). - The main interface of Notebook LM features squares containing material for specific projects, and users can create a new project by clicking "Create New" and adding sources such as websites, [[YouTube]] videos, and files [(00:01:42)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Nl6hz2nYFA&t=102s). - To start a new project, users can add sources by copying and pasting [[URL | URLs]] or uploading files, and Notebook LM provides a "Source Guide" that summarizes each source in a one-paragraph summary [(00:03:46)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Nl6hz2nYFA&t=226s). - Users can add multiple sources, including websites and YouTube videos, by copying and pasting URLs or uploading files, and Notebook LM allows users to organize these sources in a project [(00:04:08)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Nl6hz2nYFA&t=248s). - Notebook LM also allows users to upload files, such as PDFs, by clicking "Add Source" and selecting the file, which can be useful for adding extensive guides or documents to a project [(00:04:57)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Nl6hz2nYFA&t=297s). - The platform can be particularly useful for projects that require extensive research, such as planning a trip to a foreign country, and can help users save time by generating conversations and summaries on demand [(00:02:10)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Nl6hz2nYFA&t=130s). - Users can use [[NotebookLM | Notebook LM]] to research various topics, such as the culture, history, and destinations of a country, and can add multiple sources to create a comprehensive project [(00:02:16)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Nl6hz2nYFA&t=136s). - The process of adding sources to Notebook LM is straightforward, involving copying and pasting URLs or uploading files, and users can easily organize and manage their sources within a project [(00:03:55)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Nl6hz2nYFA&t=235s). - Notebook LM's ability to generate conversations and summaries can be especially helpful for users with limited time, such as those with multiple projects or responsibilities, and can assist in prioritizing tasks and managing time more effectively [(00:02:21)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Nl6hz2nYFA&t=141s). - NotebookLM is a tool that can generate conversations based on given sources and instructions, and it has been used to create a 21-minute podcast conversation about a trip to [[Guatemala]] in the summer of 2025 [(00:05:03)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Nl6hz2nYFA&t=303s). - The conversation generated by NotebookLM is highly realistic and indistinguishable from a human conversation, and it can be customized based on the instructions provided, such as giving context and details about the trip [(00:05:46)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Nl6hz2nYFA&t=346s). - The user can add sources to NotebookLM, including text from other documents or websites, by copying and pasting the text into the tool, and then using it to generate a conversation [(00:05:31)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Nl6hz2nYFA&t=331s). - [[NotebookLM]] also has a beta feature called interactive mode, which allows the user to join the conversation in real-time and provide additional information or context, such as the fact that two small children will be accompanying the travelers [(00:07:17)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Nl6hz2nYFA&t=437s). - The interactive mode allows the conversation to be tailored to the specific needs and circumstances of the travelers, such as recommending kid-friendly activities and adjusting the pace of the itinerary to accommodate young children [(00:07:52)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Nl6hz2nYFA&t=472s). - The audio overview feature is powerful because it allows users to learn through listening, which can be less taxing and boring than reading, and it also enables a more passive learning experience where two knowledgeable hosts discuss a topic independently, providing a superficial survey of the landscape [(00:08:31)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Nl6hz2nYFA&t=511s). - This feature is different from typical chat interactions with AI, where the user has to think of questions and prompts to keep the conversation moving forward, whereas in this case, the hosts have their own conversation, allowing users to learn without putting in much effort [(00:08:49)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Nl6hz2nYFA&t=529s). - Users can generate a personalized podcast conversation on a topic and even ask follow-up questions in a chat window, which provides more in-depth information and citations to the original sources [(00:09:42)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Nl6hz2nYFA&t=582s). - The audio overview feature is not limited to a surface-level conversation, as users can also create structured documents, such as study guides, quizzes, and glossaries, to delve deeper into a topic [(00:10:26)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Nl6hz2nYFA&t=626s). - Additionally, users can create audio overviews using their own internal thoughts, feelings, ideas, and journal entries, which can be inserted as sources, allowing for a more personal and reflective learning experience [(00:11:19)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Nl6hz2nYFA&t=679s). - The feature also enables users to reflect on their own experiences and milestones, such as an annual review or year-end journaling, and generate an audio overview of their personal reflections [(00:11:47)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Nl6hz2nYFA&t=707s). - The individual practices what they preach and expresses anxiety about doing a review, despite it being their area of expertise, and is worried about coming across as performative or not digging deep enough [(00:12:19)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Nl6hz2nYFA&t=739s). - Reflecting on one's life through journal entries can be helpful, but hearing others discuss it in depth provides a fascinating outsider perspective, allowing for a more objective point of view and increased appreciation and gratitude [(00:12:41)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Nl6hz2nYFA&t=761s). - This outsider perspective helps to get out of one's own perspective, see life from a more objective point of view, and be more objective about the life and year that has passed, making it a powerful tool for personal growth [(00:13:11)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Nl6hz2nYFA&t=791s). - The individual plans to make this practice part of their journaling routine going forward, as it has been a valuable experience [(00:13:28)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Nl6hz2nYFA&t=808s). - An expanded context window is feature number two, which is discussed after reflecting on the benefits of gaining an outsider perspective on one's life [(00:13:31)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Nl6hz2nYFA&t=811s). ## 2. Expanded Context Window (25M words!) [(00:13:35)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Nl6hz2nYFA&t=815s) - [[NotebookLM | Notebook LM]] utilizes Google's Gemini 2.0 flash AI model, which can take in up to 50 sources, each with up to 500,000 words, allowing for a context window of up to 25 million words, significantly higher than other AI tools [(00:13:37)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Nl6hz2nYFA&t=817s). - The context window refers to the limit of how much context can be given to the AI, and with Gemini 2.0 flash, it has radically expanded to 25 million words, enabling more comprehensive analysis and problem-solving [(00:15:47)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Nl6hz2nYFA&t=947s). - AI has two kinds of memory: long-term memory, which is its training data, and short-term memory, which is the data it is working with currently, and most of the advantage of working with AI comes from its short-term memory [(00:14:42)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Nl6hz2nYFA&t=882s). - The context window allows users to supply the AI with specific data about their problem or project, such as customer interviews, grant proposals, or medical history, enabling the AI to provide more accurate and relevant results [(00:16:07)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Nl6hz2nYFA&t=967s). - With the expanded context window, users can load up large amounts of data, such as entire folders of customer interviews, archives of grant proposals, or personal notes, and ask the AI to analyze and provide insights, making it a powerful tool for various applications [(00:17:11)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Nl6hz2nYFA&t=1031s). - A partnership between Rewise and Notebook LM allows users to export notes and highlights from ebooks and online articles to [[Google Docs]], which can then be loaded into Notebook LM, enabling the creation of a centralized knowledge base [(00:17:33)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Nl6hz2nYFA&t=1053s). - This feature allows users to open up their [[Google Drive]] and access multiple [[Google]] Docs worth of highlights, which can be summarized into a broad swath of their learning, research, and interests across many years [(00:17:54)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Nl6hz2nYFA&t=1074s). - With this centralized knowledge base, users can ask deep and penetrating questions about their personal growth, learning, and career, and receive summaries of their most common recurring interests based on their notes [(00:18:25)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Nl6hz2nYFA&t=1105s). - [[NotebookLM | Notebook LM]] can also suggest other ideas, topics, and areas of interest that are likely to resonate with the user, essentially acting as a teacher suggesting other things to learn about [(00:19:00)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Nl6hz2nYFA&t=1140s). - Additionally, Notebook LM can create a personalized study guide and reading list to help users dive deeper into topics of interest, broken up into chapters with key questions, activities, and readings [(00:19:13)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Nl6hz2nYFA&t=1153s). - The expanded context window is critical in enabling this personalized learning experience, as it allows the AI to draw on a massive repository of information about the user and generate recommendations that are tailored to their needs [(00:19:50)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Nl6hz2nYFA&t=1190s). - This approach to interacting with AI is different from traditional methods, as it involves pointing the AI at a large repository of information and letting it do the work, rather than designing extensive prompts or meticulously organizing sources [(00:20:08)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Nl6hz2nYFA&t=1208s). ## 3. Multimodal Sources (PDFs, YouTube, Google Slides) [(00:20:17)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Nl6hz2nYFA&t=1217s) - [[NotebookLM | Notebook LM]] now supports multimodal sources, which means it can handle various formats such as [[URL | URLs]], [[YouTube]] videos, PDFs, text, [[Google Docs]], audio files, and images, specifically those within [[Google Slides]], allowing users to work with information in different forms [(00:20:17)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Nl6hz2nYFA&t=1217s). - The ability to work with [[Google]] Slides is particularly useful as it enables users to directly interact with presentation slides, which are a common format for sharing information in modern work, including sales calls and technical specifications [(00:20:42)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Nl6hz2nYFA&t=1242s). - Users can upload a Google Slides presentation to Notebook LM, which can then summarize and analyze the information, such as comparing and contrasting different health benefits packages proposed by an insurance agent [(00:21:16)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Nl6hz2nYFA&t=1276s). - Notebook LM can provide a summary of the information, highlighting key points such as the core difference between two proposed health benefits packages, and can also perform more in-depth analysis, such as calculating the cost difference between the two plans for a certain number of employees over a year [(00:21:50)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Nl6hz2nYFA&t=1310s). - The multimodal capability of Notebook LM allows it to understand and work with complex information, including diagrams, charts, images, and photographs embedded in slides, making it easier for users to absorb and analyze the information [(00:23:56)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Nl6hz2nYFA&t=1436s). ## 4. New Interface [(00:24:10)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Nl6hz2nYFA&t=1450s) - The redesigned interface of [[NotebookLM]] is divided into three columns or panels, including the sources panel on the left, the chat panel in the middle, and the studio panel on the right, allowing users to organize and interact with their notebooks more efficiently [(00:24:11)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Nl6hz2nYFA&t=1451s). - The sources panel displays the sources the AI is working with and drawing from, and users can expand or collapse this panel as needed to manage their workspace [(00:24:14)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Nl6hz2nYFA&t=1454s). - The chat panel is where users interact with the AI, and it is beneficial to make this panel large to accommodate extensive answers from the AI, which can be saved to notes for later reference [(00:24:37)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Nl6hz2nYFA&t=1477s). - The studio panel on the right is where users create and interact with audio overviews, pre-made options, and other features, such as generating a study guide, briefing document, or FAQ, and it also includes the notes section where valuable answers can be saved [(00:25:10)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Nl6hz2nYFA&t=1510s). - The notes section in the studio panel allows users to save important answers and insights from their conversations with the AI, which can be thought of as the final output or "gems" of their conversation [(00:25:50)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Nl6hz2nYFA&t=1550s). - A significant new addition to the interface is the inclusion of source citations, which are little numbers that allow users to double-check the AI's answers by clicking on them to open the original source, promoting trust and accuracy in the AI's responses [(00:26:07)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Nl6hz2nYFA&t=1567s). - The source grounding philosophy of the [[NotebookLM]] team aims to prevent the AI from "hallucinating" or making things up, especially for information within the context window, by providing a way to verify the AI's answers through source citations [(00:26:30)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Nl6hz2nYFA&t=1590s). - The new interface with inline citations is a significant step forward in trusting the AI's responses, as it enables users to verify the accuracy of the information provided [(00:27:12)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Nl6hz2nYFA&t=1632s). ## 5. NotebookLM Plus: Is it worth it? [(00:27:19)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Nl6hz2nYFA&t=1639s) - Notebook LM now has a paid upgraded version called Notebook LM Plus, which offers additional features for teams or companies, and the basic version of Notebook LM is free and expected to remain free, similar to most of Google's core tools [(00:27:20)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Nl6hz2nYFA&t=1640s). - There are three separate ways to get Notebook LM Plus: through [[Google Workspace]], [[Google | Google Cloud]], or [[Google One]], which can be purchased individually, with pricing depending on the method of purchase, estimated to be around $20 per month [(00:27:42)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Nl6hz2nYFA&t=1662s). - [[NotebookLM | Notebook LM]] Plus offers four main features, including an even bigger context window of up to 15 million words, five times higher usage limits, chat modes that allow users to give Notebook LM certain personalities, and the ability to collaborate within Notebook LM [(00:27:59)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Nl6hz2nYFA&t=1679s). - The chat modes feature allows users to customize Notebook LM's responses to be more critical and analytical, or to take on specific roles such as a guide or teacher, and users can also define their own custom personalities [(00:28:35)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Nl6hz2nYFA&t=1715s). - The collaboration feature in Notebook LM Plus enables users to share entire notebooks with others, customize permissions, and allow team members or external collaborators to interact with custom AI models without having to copy and paste text [(00:29:12)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Nl6hz2nYFA&t=1752s). ## Final thoughts: The AI-powered Second Brain [(00:30:29)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Nl6hz2nYFA&t=1829s) - The current shift with Notebook LM, which has a much bigger context window, is comparable to having a great teacher with a fantastic short-term memory, allowing it to follow the thread of a topic and reference previous conversations [(00:30:30)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Nl6hz2nYFA&t=1830s). - A great teacher can think into the future, plan out different stages of a curriculum, and coach students through it, which is a valuable asset in a time of fast change, partly driven by AI [(00:30:36)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Nl6hz2nYFA&t=1836s). - The ability to learn faster and more often is becoming increasingly important, and having an AI-powered, world-class teacher with a fantastic memory can be a world-changing and life-changing phenomenon [(00:31:07)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Nl6hz2nYFA&t=1867s). - This AI-powered teacher can guide individuals through an unpredictable landscape, making it an invaluable resource for those looking to adapt to rapid changes [(00:31:16)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Nl6hz2nYFA&t=1876s). - To experience this phenomenon, individuals can create a free account at [[NotebookLM | notebooklm.goole.com]], allowing them to access the benefits of an AI-powered teacher and share their thoughts on the experience [(00:31:30)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Nl6hz2nYFA&t=1890s). ## Sources - [website](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Nl6hz2nYFA)