In a world where many students use AI to cheat their way through assignments and exams, there are still students looking for tools that merely make studying a little easier and help them work smarter, not harder. I was one of them as well, which is why I tried ChatGPT, and while it helped, it wasn't quite enough.
After days of experimenting with the best AI tools recommended for productivity, I finally landed on Google's wildly underrated AI tool, NotebookLM, and I haven't looked back since. Here are four specific NotebookLM features that have completely transformed the way I study, for the better!
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4 Audio Overview
Why read notes when I can just listen to a podcast discussing them?
Whether you're drowning in research-heavy readings or stuck with a professor who loves making endless lecture slides, spending hours sifting through them can feel like torture. Instead of forcing yourself to read through walls of text, wouldn't it be better to just listen to a podcast discussing any source you provide it with?
That's where NotebookLM's Audio Overview feature comes in. In an Audio Overview, two virtual hosts will discuss key topics from your sources in an engaging and lively manner -- just like any podcast you'd typically listen to. One host asks the other questions related to your content, which makes it easier to remember and understand.
To generate one, head to NotebookLM's homepage and click the Create New button. If you'd like to create one from an existing notebook, open it instead. Click + Add source in the Sources panel on the left and upload the reference material you would like the podcast to cover. These can be lecture slides, research papers, notes you've taken yourself, course reading -- you name it. You can also add as many as you would like.
NotebookLM currently doesn't accept PowerPoint presentations as a source, so be sure to convert your .pptx file to a PDF (or another supported format) before uploading it. I use ILovePDF for this.
Once your source has been uploaded, simply click Generate under Audio Overview. If you'd like the AI hosts to focus on a specific source or topic, click the Customize button instead, add your instructions to the text box, and then hit Generate.
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Wait for a few months, and your AI podcast should be ready. The best part? You can even download it to listen offline later. I do this all the time and listen to mine on the bus, on a walk, or while running errands.
3 Summarization features
No one likes reading endless pages of notes anyway
Depending on how many sources you've provided and their length, your podcast's duration can vary. But when you're cramming for an exam at 3 AM, chugging your fifth cup of coffee, you probably don't have time to listen to two people cheerfully discussing your course content. Whether that's the case or you simply absorb information faster by reading and need the main points upfront, NotebookLM's summarization features can help.
To use them, start by opening a new or existing notebook. Then, add the sources you'd like NotebookLM to summarize by clicking + Add source. Once uploaded, your notebook will automatically be named, and a concise summary of all your sources will appear in the center of your screen, right below the notebook's name. If you'd like a summary of each source individually, locate it in the left panel and click on it. You'll also see all your source's Key Topics listed as clickable buttons next to the summary.
Clicking one prompts NotebookLM to generate a detailed discussion on that specific topic. This is a lifesaver when you're struggling with certain concepts.
What's even better is that you can ask NotebookLM questions related to your sources in the Chat panel, and it will answer using only your provided materials.
Unlike most AI tools that add unnecessary fluff, NotebookLM keeps its responses direct and to the point -- skipping irrelevant background details, even if they're present in your sources.
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2 Content generation features
Your notes, but smarter
If you glance at the Studio panel, you'll notice a section labeled Notes, with the following options: Study Guide, Briefing Doc, FAQ, and Timeline.
Since I use NotebookLM purely for studying, I find Study Guides most effective, as they typically include a short-answer quiz, an answer key, essay questions, and a glossary.
The Briefing Doc works similarly but isn't as study-focused. Instead, it provides an overview of your source, key themes and concepts, examples, key quotes, and a conclusion. The FAQ, as expected, generates a list of common questions and their answers based on your source, making it easy to clarify concepts without digging through the entire document.
Lastly, the Timeline feature organizes key concepts from your sources in a structured format, making it easier to follow the progression of ideas.
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Depending on what you're studying, it may arrange information logically rather than in chronological order. I find this especially useful for history-related content.
1 Citing features
AI tools have a bad habit of making things up
If you've ever used AI tools before, you've probably noticed their tendency to "hallucinate" information and alter details as they please. AI misinformation is a major reason why students hesitate to rely on these tools for studying.
When NotebookLM was first introduced via a post on Google's blog, the company mentioned that the primary difference between NotebookLM and other AI chatbots is that it lets you "ground" it within your notes and sources. Essentially, this means NotebookLM pulls its answers directly from your notes and won't search the internet for additional information. This effectively prevents it from fabricating false answers or telling you what it thinks you want to hear. If you ask for something not covered in your sources, the model simply tells you it can't find the answer in your notes.
For example, I studied for a programming quiz using lecture slides focused on Object-Oriented Programming. Out of curiosity, I asked NotebookLM to explain "photosynthesis," which, obviously, had nothing to do with my sources. Here's what it told me:
The provided sources and our conversation history do not contain any information about photosynthesis. Therefore, I cannot answer your question using only the given sources and our conversation history.
Whenever NotebookLM answers a question, you'll always see citation numbers alongside its responses. Hovering over a citation reveals the exact text used to generate the answer.
Clicking on one takes you directly to the quoted text in the Sources panel, making it easy to verify where the information came from.
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Let NotebookLM do the heavy lifting
You've likely heard that the easiest way to do something more is to learn to love the process. While that's much easier said than done for studying, NotebookLM changed things around for me entirely. Now, I actually understand the content I'm studying, and instead of wasting time mindlessly rereading notes, I stay engaged with the material. NotebookLM is one of those productivity tools every student needs, and I can't recommend it enough.
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