Latest news with #NotebookLM
Tom's Guide
4 hours ago
- Tom's Guide
How to use Google's AI-powered NotebookLM — 5 tips to get started
Google's NotebookLM, helps you to make sense of large amounts of complex information. It's proven particularly popular among students, writers and journalists, since it allows users to add and summarize multiple sources. If you're looking to connect scattered ideas or organize reams of notes, then NotebookLM is sure to be the tool for you. After making its debut as a desktop, browser-based tool, NotebookLM has been launched as an app for Android and iOS and, while it's not as comprehensive, it comes with some key features. These include an ability to create AI-driven podcasts, ask questions and share content from third-party apps in an instant. If you're feeling overwhelmed by your research, it's well worth trying. But how can you get the most out of NotebookLM? In this guide, we take a deeper look at what you can achieve with the app. First, make sure you have the NotebookLM downloaded from the App Store or Google Play. Although you can use NotebookLM to explore any specific topic of your choosing, and this is, indeed, the app's strength — you should also create a main notebook stuffed with material that relates to your core day-by-day activities. For example, you could tap Create New to start a notebook dedicated to your home life. This could cover everything from hobbies and chores to grocery lists, ideas, plans, events, and recurring tasks. Over time, this would become a growing knowledge base you can easily refer back to. This would allow you to ask for all kinds of stuff. you could get it to generate recipes, suggest ways of saving time, create schedules, organise trips and more. In that sense, it would become an intimate, personal AI assistant. When researching a specific project, start by gathering all your sources in one place. Search the web, find relevant PDFs, watch YouTube videos, and collect any key texts related to the topic, then add them to a notebook before diving in. You can do that in the NotebookLM app – select Add a source – or via any app if you tap the share icon. In that sense, you're creating You can do this in the NotebookLM app by selecting Add a source, or from any app by tapping the share icon. You're creating your own niche, local search engine and making it as comprehensive as you can. Indeed, the more information you include in a notebook, the better it will be at spotting connections and identifying patterns to help you make sense of your resources. There's a limit of 50 sources, but that should be plenty. When you begin to ask questions, you can be confident that NotebookLM is providing the best compiled answer possible, drawing from those multiple, focused sources. When you bring so much information together, it can still be difficult to know where to start. You could get NotebookLM to summarize the data in written form,but you may find it's actually easier to get to grips with the material by asking for a podcast. All you need to do is open the notebook, tap Studio, tap Audio Overview and select Generate. It may take a few minutes to generate, but once it's ready, you can listen to a deep-dive discussion about your sources, hosted by two AI presenters. The audio can also be downloaded for offline listening. In the course of that conversation, they'll raise and talk about different aspects of the topic in a lively and interesting manner, helping you to better understand the themes. What's more, you can ask questions whenever you wish — even verbally. There's also a beta option that lets you tap Join and ask something. It's like being part of a phone-in show. Rather than have the audio overview simply discuss a broad range of topics in relation to a subject, you can steer it towards a particular angle by just asking it to do so. For example, if you were researching Android 16, you could ask it to focus on the AI features. You can also do this in the Chat section if you'd prefer a written overview but it won't be a discussion. NotebookLM is a flexible system and you can use it to present information in a whole host of ways. You could, if you wish, have NotebookLM trawl through all of your sources and pick out the most interesting themes, presenting them as a digestible FAQ. Or you could ask for a timeline if you'd like to arrange the information chronologically. NotebookLM can work as a great study guide and if you use it in this way, it will allow you to check the original source from which the information is being drawn. Although NotebookLM is a research tool, that doesn't mean it has be for dry topics. You can use it for creative projects too. Throw that book you're writing into it and it can help you track your characters and their personalities. It can also be used to brainstorm ideas, help to overcome writer's block by offering different paths and suggest ways to improve your prose. You can even get NotebookLM to rewrite text, produce lyrics, suggest names and so much more. Now you've learned the top tips to get the most out of NotebookLM on your smartphone, why not take a look at our other useful articles? Check out five uses for Google's Gemini-powered research companion and discover how you can get to grips with NotebookLM Plus, now available with the Google One AI Premium subscription plan. And if you're wanting to venture into other AI models, here's 9 prompts to get started in Gemini. Get instant access to breaking news, the hottest reviews, great deals and helpful tips.
TECHx
2 days ago
- Business
- TECHx
Google Cloud Summit Doha Marks Two-Year Milestone
Home » Tech Value Chain » Global Brands » Google Cloud Summit Doha Marks Two-Year Milestone Google Cloud hosted its second annual Google Cloud Summit in Doha. The event was held under the patronage of His Excellency Mohammed bin Ali bin Mohammed Al Mannai, Minister of Communications and Information Technology. The summit gathered over 1,500 industry leaders, developers, and IT professionals. It marked two years since the launch of the Google Cloud Doha region, which has been supporting local innovation. Officials announced new advancements in AI, data analytics, and cloud technologies. Discussions revealed strategic collaborations aimed at accelerating Qatar's digital transformation. A major focus was placed on joint efforts with the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology (MCIT). The summit also highlighted: Customer success stories from major Qatari organizations Deep-dive sessions on cybersecurity and data management Executives from Google Cloud and Qatari leaders delivered keynote speeches. They explored AI tools such as Gemini, AI Agents, and NotebookLM. Attendees gained insights into practical cloud solutions and innovation strategies. Mr. Sami Al Shammari, Assistant Undersecretary for Infrastructure and Operations Affairs at MCIT, reported that the collaboration with Google Cloud has significantly contributed to Qatar's digital goals. He emphasized its role in enhancing infrastructure, delivering secure services, and developing a future-ready workforce. He further revealed that Google Cloud's advanced technologies are improving service delivery and building local talent. This aligns with Qatar National Vision 2030 and the Digital Agenda 2030. Ghassan Kosta, Regional General Manager for Google Cloud in Qatar, Oman, Bahrain, and Iraq, stated the summit celebrates two years of successful partnerships. He added that the Doha region plays a key role in empowering Qatar's public services and digital economy. The event also reported cloud adoption by several major entities in Qatar, including: Al Jazeera Media Network, Aspire, and beIN MEDIA GROUP Ministry of Labour, Qatar Airways, Ooredoo Group, and others Google Cloud reaffirmed its commitment to supporting innovation and digital growth across Qatar.
Arab News
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Arab News
AN 50 Anniversary Ai Podcast
Arab News 50th anniversary podcast: Recounting the moments that changed the Middle East. Powered by Google's NotebookLM AI tool. Search form Search © 2025 SAUDI RESEARCH & PUBLISHING COMPANY, All Rights Reserved And subject to Terms of Use Agreement.
CNET
5 days ago
- Business
- CNET
NotebookLM Is My All-Time Favorite AI Tool and Its New Features Make It Even Better
I'd always liked the idea of NotebookLM and had enjoyed playing around with it during its early days, but after revisiting it recently, it's become my favorite AI tool, ever. It's no longer something that I just tinker around with every once in a while, but an indispensable tool that I now use nearly every day. Powered by Google's Gemini AI, it can break down complex subjects into an easy-to-understand format, or even help you brainstorm new ideas. Even better, there's now a mobile app for iOS and Android, and new features were just announced during Google I/O earlier this month. It keeps getting better without feeling like it's becoming overstuffed with featured just for the sake of it. NotebookLM isn't just Google Keep stuffed with AI, nor is it just a chatbot that can take notes. It's both and neither. Instead of asking questions to Gemini, only for it to find an answer from the ether of the internet, NotebookLM will only search through the sources that you provide it. It's a dead simple concept that feels like one of the most practical uses of AI, giving way to the perfect study buddy for classes or work. And Google didn't stop there. Now it can do so much more, and will reward your poking around to see what it can do for you. And features like its impressive Audio Overviews have since trickled down into Gemini itself, allowing it to be used in a much wider set of Google's products. Below, I'll cover some of NotebookLM's most interesting features (including the newly announced ones) and how it became one of my favorite AI tools to use. For more, don't miss Google's smart glasses plans with AndroidXR. What is NotebookLM? NotebookLM is a Gemini-powered note-taking and research assistant tool that can be used in a multitude of ways. It all starts with the sources you feed it, whether they're webpage URLs, YouTube videos or audio clips, allowing you to pull multiple sources together into a cohesive package and bring some organization to your scattered thoughts or notes. The most obvious use case for NotebookLM is using it for school or work. Think of it -- you've kept up with countless classes and typed notes down for every one and even perhaps recorded some lectures. Sifting through everything individually can eventually get you to some semblance of understanding, but what if you could get them to work together? Once you've uploaded your sources, Gemini will get to work to create an overall summary of the material. From there, you can begin asking Gemini questions about specific topics on the sources and information from the sources will be displayed in an easy-to-understand format. This alone may be enough for some people just looking to get the most out of their notes, but that's really just scratching the surface. Available for desktop and mobile NotebookLM's three panel layout NotebookLM/Screenshot by Blake Stimac NotebookLM has been available for a while now on the desktop and is broken into a three-pane layout, consisting of Source, Chat and Studio panels. Both the Source and Studio panels are collapsible, so you can have a full-screen chat experience if you prefer. While the Source and Chat panels are pretty self-explanatory, the Studio panel is where magic can happen (though some of the features can also be created directly from the Chat panel). This is where you can get the most out of your NotebookLM experience. The NotebookLM app is like having a data alchemist in your pocket The mobile app for Android and iOS launched the day before Google I/O 2025. Blake Stimac/CNET Those familiar with the desktop experience will feel right at home with the new mobile apps for iOS and Android. The streamlined app allows you to switch between the Source, Chat and Studio panels via a menu at the bottom. When you go to the view that shows all of your notebooks, you'll see tabs for Recent, Shared, Title and Downloaded. While not everything is on the app yet, it's likely just a matter of time before it matches the web version's full functionality. Audio Overviews If you didn't hear about NotebookLM when it was first announced, you likely did when Audio Overviews were released for it. Once you have at least one source uploaded, you can then opt to generate an Audio Overview, which will provide a "deep dive" on the source material. These overviews are created by none other than Gemini, and it's not just a quick summary of your material in audio format -- it's a full-blown podcast with two "hosts" that break down complex topics into easy-to-understand pieces of information. They're incredibly effective, too, often asking each other questions to dismantle certain topics. The default length of an Audio Overview will vary depending on how much material there is to go over and the complexity of the topic -- though I'm sure there are other factors at play. In my testing, a very short piece of text created a five-minute audio clip, whereas two lengthier and more dense Google Docs documents I uploaded created an 18-minute Overview. If you want a little more control on the length for your Audio Overview, you're in luck. Announced in a blog post during Google I/O earlier this month, users now have three options to choose from: shorter, default and longer. This is perfect if you either want to have a short and dense podcast-like experience of if you want to get into the nitty gritty on a subject with a longer Audio Overview. You can interact with your AI podcasters It gets even better. Last December, NotebookLM got a new design and new ways to interact with Audio Overviews. The customize button allows you to guide the conversation so that key points are covered. Type in your directive and then generate your Audio Overview. Now, if you want to make this feature even more interactive, you can choose the Interactive mode, which is still in beta, to join the conversation. The clip will play, and if you have a particular question in response to something that's said, you can click the join button. Once you do, the speakers will pause and acknowledge your presence and ask you to chime in with thoughts or questions, and you'll get a reply. I wanted to try something a little different, so I threw in the lyrics of a song as the only source, and the AI podcast duo began to dismantle the motivations and emotions behind the words. I used the join feature to point out a detail in the lyrics they didn't touch on, and the two began to dissect what my suggestion meant in the context of the writing. They then began linking the theme to other portions of the text. It was impressive to watch: They handled the emotional weight of the song so well, and tactfully at that. Mind Maps Generating a Mind Map is just one of several powerful features from NotebookLM Google/Screenshot by Blake Stimac I'd heard interesting things about NotebookLM's Mind Map feature, but I wanted to go in blind when I tried it out, so I did a separate test. I took roughly 1,500 words of Homer's Odyssey and made that my only source. I then clicked the Mind Map button, and within seconds, an interactive and categorical breakdown of the text was displayed for me to poke around in. Many of the broken-down sections had subsections for deeper dives, some of which were dedicated to single lines for dissection. Clicking on a category or end-point of the map will open the chat with a prefilled prompt. I chose to dive into the line, "now without remedy," and once clicked, the chat portion of NotebookLM reopened with the prefilled prompt, "Discuss what these sources say about Now without remedy, in the larger context of [the subsection] Alternative (worse)." The full line was displayed, including who said it, what it was in response to and any motivations (or other references) for why the line was said in the text. Study guides and more If the combination of all that Audio Overviews and Mind Maps could do sounds like everything a student might need for the perfect study buddy, NotebookLM has a few other features that will solidify it in that place. Study guides After you've uploaded a source, you can create a quick study guide based on the material that will automatically provide a document with a quiz, potential essay questions, a glossary of key terms and answers for the quiz at the bottom. And if you want, you can even convert the study guide into a source for your notebook. FAQs Whether you're using it for school or want to create a FAQ page for your website, the NotebookLM button generates a series of potentially common questions based on your sources. Timeline If you're looking for a play-by-play sort of timeline, it's built right in. Creating a timeline for the Odyssey excerpt broke down main events in a bulleted list and placed them based on the times mentioned in the material. If an event takes place at an unspecified time, it will appear at the top of the timeline, stating this. A cast of characters for reference is also generated below the timeline of events. Briefing document The briefing document is just what it sounds like, giving you a quick snapshot of the key themes and important events to get someone up to speed. This will include specific quotes from the source and their location. A summary of the material is also created at the bottom of the document. How NotebookLM really 'sold' me I already really liked NotebookLM's concept and execution during its 1.0 days, and revisiting the new features only strengthened my appreciation for it. My testing was mostly for fun and to see how this tool can flex, but using it when I "needed" it helped me really get an idea of how powerful it can be, even for simple things. During a product briefing, I did my typical note-taking: Open a Google Doc, start typing in fragmented thoughts on key points, and hope I could translate what I meant when I needed to refer back to them. I knew I would also receive an official press release, so I wasn't (too) worried about it, but I wanted to put NotebookLM to the test in a real-world situation when I was using it for real -- and not just tinkering, when nearly anything seems impressive when it does what you tell it to. I decided to create a new notebook and make my crude notes (which looked like a series of bad haikus at first glance) the only source, just to see what came out on the other end. Not only did NotebookLM fill in the blanks, but the overall summary read almost as well as the press release I received the following day. I was impressed. It felt like alchemy -- NotebookLM took some fairly unintelligible language and didn't just turn it into something passable, but rather, a pretty impressive description. Funny enough, I've since become a more thorough note-taker, but I'm relieved to know I have something that can save the day if I need it to. Video Overviews are on the way Another feature that was announced during Google I/O was Video Overviews, and it's exactly what it sounds like. There's currently no time frame outside of "coming soon" from the blog post, but it should be a good way to get a more visual experience from your notebooks. We'd previously heard that Video Overviews might be on the way, thanks to some sleuthing from Testing Catalog, which also mentions that the ability to make your notebooks publicly available and view an Editor's Picks list of notebooks will eventually make their way to NotebookLM. While we're waiting for the new features, here's a preview of a Video Overview below. If you need more from NotebookLM, consider upgrading Most individuals may never have the need to pay for NotebookLM, as the free feature is robust enough. But if you're using it for work and need to be able to add more sources or the option to share your notebook with multiple people, NotebookLM Plus is worth considering. It gives you more of everything while introducing more customization, additional privacy and security features as well as analytics. It's worth noting that NotebookLM Plus will also be packaged in with Google's new AI subscriptions. For more, don't miss Google's going all-in on AI video with Flow and Veo 3
Gulf Today
24-05-2025
- Business
- Gulf Today
DEWA's AI-powered model converts press releases into podcasts
Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA) has adopted Google's advanced NotebookLM to convert its press releases into podcasts. The move underlines DEWA's leadership in adopting artificial intelligence (AI) across its operations, making it the first government entity in the world to use this AI-powered model in this manner, enabling the public to follow DEWA's news in an interactive and seamless manner. 'In line with the proactive vision of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, and the directives of His Highness Sheikh Hamdan Bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defence of the UAE, and Chairman of the Executive Council of Dubai, to consolidate Dubai's position as a global hub for artificial intelligence, we work in accordance with a strategic road map to become the world's first AI-native utility by integrating AI into all our operations. Adopting Google's NotebookLM will redefine the way we communicate with our audiences, moving from traditional press releases to innovative content that caters to a wider audience with diverse interests by leveraging generative AI technologies,' said Saeed Mohammed Al Tayer, MD & CEO of DEWA. Saeed Mohammed Al Tayer MD&CEO of DEWA 'This initiative is part of our efforts to achieve digital leadership and smart communication. It marks a qualitative shift in how news and information are delivered, in a way that aligns with the aspirations of the new generation, enhances transparency and innovation in government work, and builds stronger, more interactive relationships with all stakeholders,' Al Tayer added. NotebookLM is one of Google's most advanced generative AI tools. It can analyse documents, extract key ideas and format them into natural, seamless dialogue. This enhances understanding and transforms traditional content into interactive audio experiences that can be enjoyed on the go or while performing daily tasks. The podcasts generated from DEWA's press releases will be available on its website ( ), official social media accounts and leading global podcast platforms. This innovative approach improves access to information in an engaging format, particularly for People of Determination and young people who prefer audio content.
