I tried Google’s hidden note-taking app that no one’s talking about, and you should too

Google’s latest venture into the realm of note-taking, NotebookLM, is generating buzz as a potential game-changer in the productivity app landscape. This innovative tool allows users to consolidate information from various sources into a single, organized “notebook,” making it a formidable competitor to established platforms like OneNote and Notion.

NotebookLM: Google’s best-kept secret?

Upon launching NotebookLM, users are greeted with the option to import a diverse array of content, including documents from Google Drive, articles from any URL, YouTube videos, PDF files, and even MP3 audio clips. For instance, a college student tackling organic chemistry can seamlessly gather class notes, research papers, instructional videos, and recorded lectures into one cohesive space. This centralization of resources is a significant advantage, as it minimizes the chaos often associated with managing multiple sources of information.

While the app’s AI capabilities are currently limited, this restraint is arguably beneficial. Users can rest assured that their notes are based on reliable sources without the risk of AI-induced inaccuracies. At its core, NotebookLM utilizes Google’s advanced language model, Gemini 1.5 Pro, which can process an impressive two million tokens. This enables the app to analyze extensive text and generate useful outputs such as briefing documents, timelines, and study guides—all without the need for a premium subscription.

NotebookLM’s interface is straightforward yet effective, featuring a bulletin-board style layout that allows users to pin both AI-generated content and manually typed notes. This design choice enhances usability, as it avoids the clutter of chat interfaces that often require endless scrolling to find relevant information. Additionally, NotebookLM includes a chat feature with inline citations, linking users directly to source documents and specific pages, ensuring transparency and ease of reference.

Audio Overviews and why I’m sold on NotebookLM

Among its many features, the standout is undoubtedly the Audio Overviews. This function transforms your notes and sources into a podcast format, featuring two human-like hosts engaging in a dynamic conversation about the content of your notebook. This is not merely a text-to-speech function; rather, it creates an immersive listening experience that captures the nuances of human dialogue, complete with emotional inflections and conversational cues.

Even for those who may not be students or professionals needing to digest extensive notes, the utility of NotebookLM is apparent. For example, after the recent Android 15 update, I compiled Google’s official blog post alongside our detailed coverage into a notebook. Instead of sifting through the changelog, I opted for an Audio Overview, which, despite a brief processing time, provided an engaging summary of the update. The resulting podcast was not only informative but also lively, as the AI hosts interacted in a way that felt authentic and relatable.

Listening to the podcast allowed me to absorb information passively while multitasking—whether doing chores, driving, or enjoying a walk outdoors. This feature strikes a commendable balance between efficiency and engagement, making it one of Google’s most compelling AI innovations to date. While there are areas for improvement, such as reducing repetitive references and offering more voice customization options, the potential of NotebookLM is evident.

Having recently shed its “experimental” label, NotebookLM remains a work in progress, developed by a small team. Currently available as a cross-platform web app, it may lack some of the conveniences typically associated with new Google releases, such as a dedicated mobile application. However, its unique features and user-friendly design suggest that it is well worth exploring for anyone seeking a more organized approach to note-taking.

AppWizard
I tried Google's hidden note-taking app that no one's talking about, and you should too