Google has recently made significant improvements to its note-taking app, NotebookLM. Previously, users were limited to uploading Google Docs, PDFs, and text files as sources. However, with the latest update, users can now also upload Google Slides and web URLs. This expanded capability allows researchers, students, and anyone in need of organizing information to gather a wide range of sources for their projects. Each source can be up to 500,000 words long, and users can add up to 50 sources per “notebook” or project. This update is a significant step forward in making NotebookLM a more comprehensive tool for organizing and analyzing information.
One of the most exciting new features of NotebookLM is the Notebook Guide. This feature reads sources added to NotebookLM and creates study guides, FAQs, or briefing documents based on the content. This can be extremely helpful for users looking to create summaries or reference materials for their projects. Additionally, inline citations allow users to fact-check AI responses, ensuring the accuracy and reliability of the information provided. With the ability to ask questions about charts, images, and diagrams uploaded to the platform, NotebookLM is becoming a versatile tool for researchers and students alike.
Google’s latest large language model, Gemini 1.5 Pro, powers NotebookLM, providing users with advanced capabilities. This integration allows users to leverage the power of the Gemini chatbot for their projects. With Gemini 1.5 Pro, users can access features such as inline citations, data analysis, and text summarization. This advanced technology enhances the user experience and opens up new possibilities for organizing and analyzing information on NotebookLM.
While the new features of NotebookLM offer exciting possibilities for researchers and students, there are some limitations to be aware of. During a demo of the platform, it was noted that web URL sources did not work as expected. When pasting a link into NotebookLM, the model would attempt to upload the website but did not display it in the list of sources. This limitation hinders the platform’s ability to gather information from online sources effectively. Additionally, it is important to note that NotebookLM is not a tool that will write research papers for users. Unlike some other platforms, such as Perplexity’s Pages, NotebookLM focuses on organizing and analyzing information rather than generating complete research papers.
Google has highlighted several examples of how people have been using NotebookLM. Author Walter Isaacson, for instance, reportedly used the platform to analyze Marie Curie’s journals for his upcoming book. This demonstrates the versatility and potential impact of NotebookLM in real-world research and writing projects. By providing users with advanced source upload capabilities, the Notebook Guide feature, and integration with Gemini 1.5 Pro, Google is empowering researchers, students, and anyone in need of organizing information with a powerful tool for their projects.
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