Google’s AI-powered research and writing assistant, NotebookLM, has received a significant upgrade and is now available in over 200 countries, including India. Originally introduced as Project Tailwind at last year’s Google I/O event, NotebookLM was initially rolled out to a limited number of users in the US. With its latest update, it now integrates the Gemini 1.5 Pro AI model, bringing several new features and enhanced capabilities to users worldwide.
Key Features of NotebookLM with Gemini 1.5 Pro Integration

Image Credits: Google
NotebookLM now supports a wider range of source materials. Users can upload web URLs and Google Slides files in addition to the existing options of Google Drive documents, PDF files, text files, and copied text. This allows the AI chatbot to organize and answer questions based on a broader array of information sources. The Gemini 1.5 Pro model enhances the AI’s ability to parse through these different formats, making it a versatile tool for research and writing.
Inline Citations
One of the new features is inline citations for generated responses. When the AI generates a response, it includes citations that users can hover over to see the supporting passage from the source.
This feature makes it easier to fact-check information and dive deeper into the original text. It’s a useful tool for ensuring the accuracy and reliability of the AI’s responses.
Deeper Understanding and Advanced Outputs
The upgraded NotebookLM has a deeper understanding of the sources it analyzes. It can now generate frequently asked questions (FAQs), briefing documents, and study guides based on the provided sources. This advanced level of understanding allows users to get more comprehensive and useful outputs from the AI, making it an even more powerful assistant for research and writing tasks.
Privacy and Security
During a media briefing, Raiza Martin, Senior Product Manager at Google Labs, emphasized that the AI model will not be trained on the user’s data or the sources in any capacity. This ensures that the user’s data remains private and secure.
Additionally, since NotebookLM is a closed system, it does not run a web search to answer questions. Instead, it relies solely on the information present in the uploaded sources, further protecting user privacy.
How to Use NotebookLM?

Image Credits: Medium
Using NotebookLM is straightforward and user-friendly. Here’s a step-by-step guide on how to get started:
- Access the Website: Go to the NotebookLM website.Try NotebookLM: Tap on “Try
- NotebookLM” to begin.
- Upload Sources: Look for the Sources icon on the left margin. There should be a plus icon next to it. Click it.
- Choose Upload Mode: Select your preferred mode of uploading a source, whether it’s a file or a URL.
- Select Your Source: Choose the file or URL you want to use.
- Ask Questions: Once your sources are uploaded, you can type your query in the text field at the bottom of the interface.
- By following these steps, users can quickly and easily leverage the power of NotebookLM to enhance their research and writing projects.
Conclusion
The integration of the Gemini 1.5 Pro AI model into Google’s NotebookLM marks a significant advancement in the capabilities of this research and writing assistant.
With its new multimodal capabilities, expanded source options, inline citations, and deeper understanding of content, NotebookLM offers a robust tool for users around the globe. The platform’s commitment to privacy and security further enhances its appeal, making it a reliable and powerful assistant for anyone looking to improve their productivity in research and writing tasks.
As NotebookLM rolls out to over 200 countries, including India, it’s poised to revolutionize the way we approach digital research and content creation. Whether you’re a student, a professional writer, or just someone looking to organize and analyze information more effectively, NotebookLM offers a comprehensive solution that brings the best of AI technology to your fingertips.