NotebookLM: Revolutionizing AI-Powered Note-Taking and Knowledge Management

3 things I did to make NotebookLM work harder for me (and I'm never going back)

Whether you want to admit it or not, AI is slowly starting to take up more space in our everyday lives. One option you have is to ignore it and continue taking on more than you can realistically handle. But here's the thing: the longer you keep doing that, the quicker you'll get left behind. The other option is to learn how to make AI work for you. I've been testing AI productivity tools for both work and personal use, and NotebookLM is one of the few I've actually found worth integrating into my workflow. It's been blowing up online lately, but most people still use it for surface-level tasks like summarizing PDFs, generating bullet points from their own sources, or converting their documents into podcasts. I use it for those tasks too, but I've also figured out how to push it further, and that's where it really starts to shine. Until NotebookLM, I never believed AI could be this game-changing for productivity It transformed my view of AI, for the better. Posts 7 3 I started treating NotebookLM like a second brain The key to integrating AI into your workflow is identifying the redundant and monotonous tasks that eat up a significant chunk of your time. So, when I was looking for ways to make NotebookLM work harder for me and integrate it better into my day-to-day, I started by thinking about the kind of tasks I found myself doing most often. For instance, I realized that I tend to spend a lot of time every single day digging through piles and piles of information, simply trying to find something I don't quite remember. Whenever I looked for workflows to help me organize or retrieve that kind of information faster, I'd always come across productivity gurus recommending centralizing all your knowledge by creating a second brain system. I tried to do that using personal knowledge systems like Notion and Obsidian, but I could never really get into it. After years of trying to build a second brain system, NotebookLM is the one tool that finally helped me achieve a solid second brain system. With NotebookLM, I'd drop anything and everything I didn't trust my actual brain to remember into an "everything" notebook. This approach not only helped me keep track of ideas I had and information I wanted to remember, but also ensured I'd actually make something out of them. I didn't keep my "everything" notebook limited to stuff I wanted to remember for work. Instead, I added things like links I didn't want to lose, personal projects I want to work on down the road, and even my to-do lists. Now, there are plenty of apps you can use to store all this information, but what makes NotebookLM the best tool for this is that its AI capabilities let you fetch anything using natural language, even when you don't fully remember what you're looking for. Once it finds the information, you can ask targeted questions about it, get summaries, understand how it connects with other sources in your notebook, and my personal favorite: generate an Audio Overview of it so you can consume it passively while multitasking. Since NotebookLM only works with sources you've uploaded, you don't need to worry about the AI hallucinating or making things up. 5 NotebookLM tips I use to supercharge my productivity Enjoy efficient knowledge management Posts 1 2 I stopped asking vague questions and got specific When I first started using NotebookLM, I sort of treated it like a smarter, more context-aware version of Google. I'd upload a PDF I didn't have time to read myself and ask things like "What's this document like?" or "Summarize this notebook for me," and the results were... decent. The responses were clearly pulled from the right sources and gave me a general idea of what the document was about, but they often felt a little too surface-level, like I was just scratching the surface of what the tool could actually do. But this wasn't NotebookLM's fault. It was purely mine. It wasn't until I stopped asking vague questions and started getting more specific that things really started to click. Instead of stopping at asking it to summarize a lengthy research document, I'd read through the summary and begin asking targeted follow-up questions like "What does this author say about X?" or "How does their argument in section three compares to the one in section five?" Giving it that extra bit of context made a huge difference, not just in how useful the answers were, but in how much time I saved. If I had to start using NotebookLM again, this is what I'd do differently from the start Learn from my chaos! Posts 9 1 I started giving it more detailed, context-rich prompts The best way to make any AI tool work harder for you is to improve the quality of the prompts you use. Though I did an in-depth article about some of my favorite NotebookLM prompts, one of my go-tos, especially when my notebook has multiple sources, is asking the AI to analyze all of them and generate five questions that capture the main point of the sources. After giving it some instructions on how to formulate the questions, I take it one step further... and ask it to answer all of its generated questions in detail. Here's the prompt I use (though I tweak it every time depending on the content of the notebook): 1.) Analyze all inputs and generate 5 essential questions that, when answered, capture the main points and core meaning of all inputs. 2.) When formulating your questions: a. Address the central theme (or themes if there are many) or argument (or arguments if many). b. Identify key supporting ideas c. Highlight important facts or evidence d. Reveal the author's purpose or perspective e. Explore any significant implications or conclusions. 3.) Answer all of your generated questions one-by-one in detail. If you'd like to see the difference a good vs. bad prompt makes, just ask NotebookLM to generate five questions from your sources without giving it any instructions. The difference in quality is night and day. This doesn't just apply when you're looking to extract information from the documents you've uploaded to your notebook. NotebookLM also lets you give custom instructions for Audio Overviews. For instance, you can use a prompt to nudge the AI hosts to pretend they're an expert on the topic you're exploring, whether that's a researcher, journalist, or even a teacher, so the overview is delivered in a tone and style that's more relevant (and engaging) for you. There are a few other tricks I use to make my Audio Overviews better, but using more detailed prompt is one that's yet to fail me. I don't 'Watch' YouTube videos anymore, I consume them using NotebookLM NotebookLM just changed the way I YouTube. Posts 14 Make NotebookLM work harder while you do less Given that I've been using the tool since it first launched as an experimental Google Labs project, I've had plenty of time to poke around, try different things, and figure out what actually helps. And with the tips above, you don't need to go through all that trial and error yourself. Instead, you can start making NotebookLM work harder for you right away.

I started using NotebookLM, Obsidian, and Google Drive together and it's been a game-changer

Are you tired of endless juggling between different apps, each holding a piece of your knowledge or one of your brilliant ideas? For too long, my digital workflow felt like a mess with my documents in Google Docs, presentations in Google Slides, and ideas and essential notes in Obsidian. But then I discovered NotebookLM, which helped me combine everything on a single platform. This isn't just about using three great apps; it's about strategic integration that changed my chaotic workflow into a streamlined system in no time. 5 NotebookLM tips I use to supercharge my productivity Enjoy efficient knowledge management Posts 1 My current productivity toolkit Each tool has its purpose From quick notes to in-depth research, I have found my ultimate productivity sweet spot by combining Obsidian with Google Drive. It's a simple yet powerful setup that keeps my knowledge organized and accessible everywhere I go. Here's how it works: my core knowledge base lives in Obsidian. This is where I capture everything - fleeting ideas, meeting notes, project plans, research, and even my daily journal entries. I love Obsidian for its plain text, Markdown-based approach. It means my notes are future-proof and truly mine. I also use Canvas to map out ideas, graph view, and bidirectional linking to create an effective second brain. The crucial link in this chain is Google Drive. All my Obsidian vaults (the folders containing my Markdown files) are synced directly to Google Drive. Instead of a paid Sync add-on, I rely on Google's cloud storage service to ensure my knowledge base is always up-to-date across all my devices. Now, for larger documents and collaborative efforts, I use Google Docs and Slides. These tools are fantastic for their real-time collaboration features, which Markdown files aren't designed for. For instance, when I'm working on a client proposal, I rely on Obsidian for initial outlines and research notes. Once I have a clear structure, I will export that information into a Google Docs. I can invite my colleagues, and we can all edit, comment, and refine the proposal in real-time. Similarly, for a presentation, I will pull the key insights from my Obsidian knowledge base and structure them in Google Slides. The beauty is that both Docs and Slides operate within the same Google Drive ecosystem, so everything is centralized and easily accessible from that single cloud account. Bridging the gap between my content Combining everything using NotebookLM While Obsidian and Google Drive deliver organized knowledge, the true game-changer for bridging gaps and unlocking deeper insights has been NotebookLM. NotebookLM handles Google Docs, Google Slides, and crucially for my workflow, even my Markdown files straight from my Google Drive. For any complex project, this means I can create a single notebook within NotebookLM and dump all the relevant materials into it. It's about creating a rich, interconnected knowledge base that NotebookLM's AI can then analyze. I created an "Everything" notebook in NotebookLM, and it's one of the smartest moves I've made All it took was one notebook to fix the chaos. Posts 13 Adding an AI touch using NotebookLM The real magic happens here Here is where this combination starts making sense. I recently took a new website project from a client, and I had call notes and competitor analysis in Markdown files in Obsidian. I also had a Google Doc that the client had shared, with specific brand guidelines and content outlines. And my Google Slides presentation carried wireframes, mood boards, and layout ideas. Before NotebookLM, I would constantly be jumping between Obsidian, Docs, and Slides to manually connect the dots. I would refer to several notes in Obsidian, then jump to Google Docs for a specific requirement, and open a slide to check a visual reference. As you can imagine, it was time-consuming and often led to missed connections. With NotebookLM, I created a dedicated notebook for this client's website project. I imported Markdown notes, the client's document, and even the web links to the competitor's sites. Once everything was loaded, that's when the magic happened. I could then use NotebookLM's AI to generate a summary, ask targeted questions, brainstorm new ideas, and more. * What are the client's absolute top three priorities for this website? * Based on the competitor analysis, what unique features could we suggest for this client to stand out? * Summarize the key brand elements and content pillars for the home page from the provided Google Doc and Slide. * What's our social media marketing plan? Overall, NotebookLM acted as a centralized brain that knew every little detail about the project and gave me relevant answers in no time. It truly bridged the gap between all my scattered resources. Instant workflow upgrade Integrating NotebookLM, Obsidian, and Google Drive has been a definitive turning point. I was able to build a connected ecosystem where every piece of information has its place and purpose. If you are ready to move from endless notes and fragmented ideas, give this trio a try. The best part is, all these apps are completely free to download and use (Google Drive's 15GB space should be ample for starters). Go ahead, give this combination a try and witness your productivity soaring to the next level.

I tried multiple tools that can generate NotebookLM-style mind maps, and here's how it went

NotebookLM isn't yet another tool that can spit out a bunch of content for you or answer questions you'd rather not Google. Instead of finding information for you and helping you learn new stuff, NotebookLM helps you work with what you already know. For instance, if you have a lengthy research paper and don't have the energy to manually read it, you can convert it into an engaging AI-generated podcast. This essentially transforms a dry document into something you can listen to on the go. Similarly, if you have a document that covers multiple concepts that are connected to each other, NotebookLM can turn that content into a clean, interactive mind map. It's one of the best ways to visualize relationships between ideas without having to manually piece everything together. It even surfaces connections between topics you might not have noticed yourself, even if you read the whole thing multiple times. Given how much attention NotebookLM is getting lately, a bunch of competitors have started popping up. I tested out a bunch of them but noticed none of them offer a mind map feature. So, I decided to test out tools that are designed solely to generate NotebookLM-like mind maps. 4 productivity tricks I've learned after using NotebookLM since launch day These simple yet powerful NotebookLM tricks have transformed my workflow. Posts 7 3 MindMap AI As you can probably tell from the tool's name itself, MindMap AI is built specifically for generating mind maps. Similar to NotebookLM, it can generate mind maps from various input formats like text and PDFs. It even takes things a step further by accepting images, audio, and video as sources. MindMap AI's free tier comes with 100 free monthly AI credits. Converting text into mind maps requires between eight to ten AI credits, while longer conversations or complex file formats like PDFs require more. If you need more, you can upgrade to its Basic or Pro tier. As soon as I opened MindMap AI, the first thing that came to my mind was, "Why is the interface so cluttered?" MindMap has an AI Copilot bot, and it was all up in my face the moment the dashboard loaded. Thankfully, the interface seemed a lot better and more user-friendly once I minimized the bot, until I realized... you can't create a mind map without the AI Copilot bot. Unlike NotebookLM, MindMap AI isn't designed to solely build branching diagrams from your own sources. Instead, it tends to primarily generate mind maps from prompts you give directly to the AI Copilot. So, I asked it to generate a mind map I've explored a lot in a NotebookLM notebook of mine -- a mind map about Object Oriented Programming. Of course, the one in NotebookLM was generated from lecture slides I had uploaded. The MindMap AI version, on the other hand, was based entirely on the prompt I gave it. The first iteration of the mind map was underwhelming. Its nodes all outlined essential terms, but the map felt like it lacked detail and read more like a generic overview. The magic happened when I prompted the AI bot to add more detail to the mind map. It expanded the nodes with definitions, examples, and subtopics, and turned simple labels into something you could actually learn from. Right-clicking on a node gave you options like AI Expand, AI Summarize, and AI Focus Topic. What stood out to me was that you could add or remove nodes and customize the mind maps according to your needs. In NotebookLM, you have absolutely no control over Mind Maps and are basically stuck with what you get. I did run out of the free credits for the month after generating just three mind maps, which was a bit disappointing. NotebookLM doesn't limit you on how many mind maps you generate, though it does have limits on how many notebooks you can create and how many sources you can add. 5 NotebookLM tips I use to supercharge my productivity Enjoy efficient knowledge management Posts 1 2 Algor Education Algor Education is a full-fledged AI studying companion, and one of the features it offers is a dedicated AI Concept Map Generator. Once you've created an account, you'll see an Organize as a map feature under a Create with Algor heading. The next step here is to upload the content you'd like to convert into a "concept map." Algor gives you four options: you can paste the content you'd like to convert into a mind map, upload a file, scan a QR code using your phone to take a photo or upload one from your device, or use a URL to a webpage or YouTube video. I decided to upload a PDF file, and one thing I wasn't a fan of was that I had to select each page I wanted to use. Though it was a document with just 25 pages, Algor only let me select eight of them to include in the mind map in the free version... which was disappointing. I use NotebookLM's free version to create mind maps of super lengthy documents, and I've never had to worry about page limits or being forced to pick and choose parts of the source. Algor's mind map itself was quite good. Even though it only summarized content from eight pages, it was detailed. One thing I really liked was how colorful the mind map it generated was. The nodes in the mind map were all colored, and sub-nodes were neatly grouped with clear connectors. Like MindMap AI, Algor lets you edit the nodes in the mind map and add more sub-nodes. You can also take it one step further and add images, videos, and audio to any node or sub-node, which I can see being helpful. Though I can see myself using the tool because of how much flexibility it offers and how detailed the mind map was, the free version being so limited is a bit of a dealbreaker. I don't mind paying for subscriptions or premium features, but when there are other tools like NotebookLM that let you do more or less the same thing for free, it's hard to justify the switch. Still, if you're willing to pay for the premium version, Algor definitely seems like a strong option for students who want vibrant, editable, multimedia-rich mind maps. I don't 'Watch' YouTube videos anymore, I consume them using NotebookLM NotebookLM just changed the way I YouTube. Posts 14 1 Mapify The last tool I decided to try out was Mapify, which can convert YouTube videos, PDFs/Docs, webpage URLs, and even podcasts and meeting recordings into mind maps. It claims it's powered by top AI chatbots like GPT and Gemini, and given that the latter powers NotebookLM, I had high expectations going in. One aspect I really liked about Mapify is that it offers a free Chrome browser extension, which can instantly summarize content you're browsing into a mind map with just a single click. Out of all the tools I tested, Mapify had the best user interface. It was clean and minimal, and extremely easy to navigate. There was a sidebar on the left, which included all the types of formats you could summarize as mind maps, like PDFs, Documents, eBooks, Image Files, Audio Files, and more. Unfortunately, you can't add multiple files at once, which means you can only generate a mind map from a single file. That's kind of limiting. With Mapify, you're stuck working with one file at a time, which feels like a step back if you're trying to explore or cross-reference multiple materials at once. Nonetheless, once you've uploaded your source, you need to hit the Mapify button, and a detailed mind map will be generated within seconds. Though I wasn't the biggest fan of the document icon placed smack in the middle of the mind map, I was impressed with the diagram itself. It was neat, easy to understand, and structured well. I also generated another mind map where I added a YouTube video as a source, and that one was incredibly detailed as well. Like the tools above, you have the option to tweak the mind map afterward. If you have any questions about the mind map, there's a Chat with AI button at the bottom-right, which you can click to bring up an AI assistant. What made Mapify stand out from the rest is how you could convert the skeleton of the diagram. Instead of it being in a mind map format, you could change it to a logic chart, tree chart, timeline, fishbone, or grid. All your generated mind maps are saved in a My Maps section, which makes organization really easy. Like the others, the free version of Mapify was extremely limited. Free users only seem to get 10 credits (one-time only), and I ran out of them just after generating two mind maps. Until NotebookLM, I never believed AI could be this game-changing for productivity It transformed my view of AI, for the better. Posts 7 So, are these tools worth switching to? All the tools I tested certianly have their advantages. But even then, I wouldn't say any of them fully replace what NotebookLM offers, especially if you're someone who likes uploading multiple documents and finding connections between them. Most of these tools either restrict you to a single source or lock key features behind a paywall. So, while I do think the tools above arr worth trying out alongside NotebookLM, I'm still sticking with NotebookLM as my go-to for now.

Why I moved all my notes to NotebookLM (and haven't looked back)

We've never had more tools to help us stay organized. Yet somehow, it feels harder than ever to keep track of everything. Instead of making life easier, the digital overload has created a new kind of digital clutter. Many of us are stuck jumping between platforms searching for a single source of truth that never quite materialized until Google's NotebookLM. Related 6 offline Android apps I use to stay productive when there's no Wi-Fi My go-to offline Android productivity kit Posts 3 Trying to organize became another form of procrastination Source: Lucas Gouveia/Android Police | Inspiration GP/Shutterstock To appreciate NotebookLM's value, we must first understand the problem it solves. We scatter ideas and information across too many places. Project notes are in one app, research articles are in another, meeting minutes are in a third, and quick thoughts are on paper or in phone memos. Those sources don't connect or communicate. Now you must remember what you saved and where you saved it. Nothing is more frustrating than knowing you've written something down, but not being able to find it. This digital hide‑and‑seek wastes time and focus. Many people turn to all-in-one note-taking platforms that promise to do it all to fix this. Still, that solution can come with its own set of problems. Notion and Obsidian are good examples. With so many options for layouts, databases, fonts, and colors, it's easy to fall into the trap of perfecting the setup instead of doing the work. This sneaky procrastination tricks you into thinking you're getting things done when you're just avoiding the core work. NotebookLM shifts the focus from memory to action Traditional note-taking is built around one idea. Don't forget anything. This fear of forgetting encourages a hoarder mentality. Over time, we end up with archives we rarely revisit. NotebookLM flips that approach. Instead of focusing on what you can save, it focuses on what you can use. It shifts the center of gravity from storage to synthesis. This shift is best understood through the lens of cognitive offloading. Cognitive offloading is using external tools to reduce the mind's burden by transferring shallow work, such as memory, calculation, or organization, to an outside resource. Offloading shallow work frees brain resources for deep work, such as creative problem-solving, critical thinking, and real work. Think of it as freeing up your brain's RAM. It reduces the anxiety and mental fatigue that come from trying to hold countless details in your head. NotebookLM handles that part instead. What Makes NotebookLM Different from Other AIs? Source: Lucas Gouveia/Android Police | Rawpixel.com/Shutterstock NotebookLM doesn't follow the usual rules of note-taking apps. It's not another digital drawer with a search bar. It treats your notes dynamically with AI, helping you ask precise questions and find grounded answers. AI tools like ChatGPT or Gemini are great at generating text. They've been trained on massive amounts of information from the internet. They're fantastic for brainstorming, creative writing, or answering general questions. However, there's a catch. Since they pull from such broad and messy sources, they're inherently unreliable for tasks demanding strict factual accuracy based on a specific context. NotebookLM operates on a source-grounding principle. Rather than sourcing answers online, it relies solely on your uploaded documents. The biggest benefit is that it cuts down on hallucinations. That's when an AI makes up information that sounds right but isn't. If something isn't in your documents, NotebookLM tells you it does not have the information. NotebookLM also builds trust by being transparent about where its answers come from. You'll see clickable citations next to the text, and when you click one, it takes you straight to the exact quote or passage in your original document. Related 10 ways I use AI to simplify my daily life Learn new ways to do work, studies, and hobbies Posts 11 The onboarding and UI are simple, as they should be Source: Google Getting started with NotebookLM is easy, especially if you've ever felt overwhelmed by the setup process in tools like Notion. Sign in with your Google account, click Create New, and you'll be instantly prompted to add your sources. The desktop layout is self-explanatory. The interface splits into three sections. The left pane shows your uploaded documents. The center pane hosts the chat window for AI interaction. The right pane holds saved notes and AI‑generated items like timelines or study guides. The platform adds unique ways to engage with your content Source: Lucas Gouveia/Android Police | Prathankarnpap/Shutterstock The moment a source is uploaded, NotebookLM begins processing it. The platform supports PDFs, Google Docs, Google Slides, website URLs, YouTube links, MP3 audio files, and clipboard text. One handy feature in NotebookLM is the source guide, which is a document summary and list of key topics. This is useful for long or unfamiliar files and helps you get the gist without reading everything. Another feature I really like is the audio overviews. NotebookLM can turn your documents into a podcast-style conversation between two AI hosts, and it's surprisingly fun to listen to. The hosts ask each other questions, explain key points, and even add a bit of banter, making complex topics digestible. It's perfect for auditory learners and anyone looking to catch up on material while commuting, working out, or doing chores. The cherry on top is accessibility. NotebookLM supports over 50 languages. That means you can chat with the AI or listen to audio overviews in your preferred language. Related 11 AI tools I can't believe are free These AI tools cost nothing, which is exactly how much I want to spend Posts 2 A few gaps hold NotebookLM back from being complete No tool is perfect, and NotebookLM is no exception. A major issue I've run into is the lack of real-time syncing. If I update a document, I must manually re-sync it into NotebookLM, which is annoying and easy to forget. There are a few minor issues, too. The text formatting tools in the notes panel are barebones and sometimes buggy. There are also some restrictions to keep in mind. The free version lets you add up to 50 sources per notebook (300 for the paid Plus plan). Each file also has to be under 200MB or 500,000 words. Plus, it doesn't support some file types, like image-only PDFs, which is odd considering how many other formats it handles well. The right habits turn NotebookLM into a real asset Source: Lucas Gouveia/Android Police | ugguggu/Shutterstock A few smart habits can make a big difference in getting the most out of NotebookLM. It starts with being selective about what you upload. Don't just dump everything in. Throwing everything into one monolithic everything notebook might be tempting, but it backfires. Stick to clear, organized documents related to your task. Create separate notebooks for each project or topic. This keeps the AI's expertise targeted and prevents it from pulling in unrelated information or generating muddled responses. A little prep goes a long way when using NotebookLM. Before uploading your files, give them clear, descriptive names. It'll make things easier to manage later, especially if your notebook has dozens of documents. After you're set up, how you prompt and ask questions also matters. The AI might give you generic or off-topic answers if your questions are too vague. When you're specific and clear, it does a much better job of pulling the right info and giving you focused responses. Don't stop at basic summaries. NotebookLM can do a lot more if you get creative with your prompts. Ask it to turn your notes into a pro/con list, or a side-by-side comparison. Playing around with different formats can help you see your information in new ways and make it easier to work with. It's not perfect, but it's headed in the right direction Moving to NotebookLM transformed how I interact with information. I replaced endless digital hide‑and‑seek with direct conversation. While the platform has room to grow, its core premise is a step forward. The value is no longer in the size of your archive but in the quality of questions you can ask. To me, this feels like the clearest vision of AI's future, and it's exciting.