Google's AI Note-Taking App, NotebookLM, Now Accessible to All Users in the U.S.

Google's foray into generative AI has produced mixed outcomes, yet the tech giant, under the Alphabet umbrella, continues to roll out new products and features.

Today, Google announced the general availability of NotebookLM, its experimental AI-powered online note-taking app. Initially accessible through a waitlist in July, it's now free for all adult users in the U.S. who wish to opt in.

What's New in NotebookLM

NotebookLM has been enhanced with Google's latest Gemini AI model, specifically the more advanced "Gemini Pro," launched earlier this week. An even more powerful "Gemini Ultra" is scheduled for release next year, alongside "Gemini Nano," a lightweight version optimized for Android devices.

How NotebookLM Works

Developed in collaboration with author Steven Johnson, NotebookLM allows users to upload multiple documents from their computers or Google Drive into a single digital workspace. Users can engage with these documents through Google’s AI, asking questions that the AI can answer based on the provided materials.

As Google Labs Editorial Director Steven Johnson and Product Manager Raiza Martin explained, “When you upload documents to NotebookLM, it becomes an instant expert in the information you need for your projects, capable of answering questions based on the supplied sources.”

With the latest Gemini update, NotebookLM can now analyze and reference up to 20 documents simultaneously, accommodating 200,000 words per document. For instance, a student can upload multiple readings and engage with the AI to practice with sample test questions, while researchers can upload previous studies and query the AI for insights.

Initial Impressions and Limitations

Despite its potential, NotebookLM has a significant limitation: it cannot analyze or browse external web links, even those included in user-uploaded notes. This is a notable drawback for a company renowned for its web crawling and indexing capabilities. Users must manually save and upload webpage PDFs or copy text into Google Docs for NotebookLM to access that information.

Preliminary tests revealed that the AI did not consistently reference all content from the provided PDFs, sometimes omitting crucial details. However, with persistence, accurate responses could be achieved.

While the interface showed minor inconsistencies, such as mismatched fonts, it did not hinder usage. Google does note, “NotebookLM may still sometimes give inaccurate responses, so you may want to confirm any facts independently.”

U.S. users with a free Google account can explore NotebookLM themselves now.