Google’s Notebooklm app is available for everyone (free): a manna from sky for students (and not only). Designed to summarize and analyze information from multiple sources.
Google has launched a tool as powerful as it is underestimated: it’s called notebooklm, where “LM” stands for Language Model. Presented in 2023 as a support for academic research, it is now Available for everyonealso on Android and iOS smartphones.
Your strong point? Help those who have to collect, summarize or analyze information from multiple sourcessuch as PDF documents, YouTube links, audio files or web pages. Unlike generalist chatbots such as Gemini and Chatgpt, Notebooklm works only on the data that the user providesand always cites the sources: a small detail that makes a big difference. Many pros and a small cons: The interface is not the most intuitive among those offered by Googlebut once you understand the mechanism becomes a valid tool for students, journalists, researchers and professionals.
Blocks and sources. As the name suggests, the app is structured in “notebooks”each built starting from selected sources. They can import pdf, websites, audio transcriptions, Google Docs files, YouTube links or even the copied text. On mobile the available sources are slightly more limited than the web version, but they are enough to start. Once loaded, these materials they are read from the AI who learns them, organizes them, analyzes them and then can answer specific questions posed by the user. If you simply want to know what it is the key concept of a documentjust ask for a summary or a scheme and the app will reply indicating from where he drew the information, with numbered quotes, clicible and easily traceable.
Each notebook has two main cards: “Sources”, where the sources are managedand “chat”, where we interact in natural language; The notebooks are automatically appointed, but can also be renamed and cataloged independently, according to their mental order.
Automatic podcast. But there is much more: one of the most interesting functions of Notebooklm is the ability to create a podcast based on your sources provided. The system summarizes the material collected in a realistic conversation between two artificial voices that explain its contents. To activate this function Just press on “Audio Ovserview” in the chat screen, or access the “Studio” tab and select “Generate”.
The creation of the file can take a few minutes, but in the meantime it is possible to continue using the application or move on to something else. Once ready, The podcast can be listened directly to the app, downloaded or also made interactive: By pressing “Interactive”, in fact, you can intervene while listening, ask questions with your voice and receive answers in real time: it is like being guests of a talk show led by the AI.
Arriving tools. Notebooklm is still in full development, and the web version already offers more features than the app mobile. With a click you can generate summary cards, timelins, frequent questions or automatic briefing on any topic covered in the virtual “notebooks”, which makes it Ideal tool also for preparing exams, relationships or didactic content.
In addition, Google has announced that in the future, video panoramic and new forms of interactive display will also arrive. The service is free For most users, but those who subscribe to the premium (from $ 20 a month) get access to a number major sources and prolonged use of resourcesincreasing the possibility of saving time and effort.
