Google’s NotebookLM, the artificial intelligence (AI) note-taking and research assistant platform, received a new update on Thursday. The update expanded the functionality of the platform and now users can add a YouTube video or audio file as a source, and ask AI questions about it. The platform is also improving the sharing capability of audio overviews, a feature it debuted earlier this month. Additionally, users can now create study guides based on handwritten notes and lecture slides. These features are being rolled out to all users.
NotebookLM now supports YouTube videos, audio files
NotebookLM was introduced as a platform that uses AI to make note-taking and research easier for students, academics, and journalists. The platform allows users to add a variety of sources, such as a PDF file, Word document, Google Doc, or simply a copy-pasted block of text, and the AI will process it and summarize the key points. It may also answer questions based on additional sources.
In a blog post, Google highlighted that the AI platform will now also accept YouTube videos and audio files as sources. Users can choose a public YouTube video (unlisted videos will not work) URL and add it as a source. Once done, NotebookLM will process the video and generate the key points discussed therein. A transcript of the video will also be produced and users will be allowed to further explore the topics using inline citations. Users can also watch videos for additional context within the platform.
Audio files are also supported as sources on the platform. NotebookLM can transcribe conversations and locate specific information when prompted. Its targets are students who record their lectures to read later or journalists who record interviews to draft articles on them. However, it will also be useful for corporate professionals who want to remember the minutes of meetings.
Additionally, the platform also supports handwritten notes and lecture slides. These can be combined to create dedicated study guides that present the topic in a systematic way. Finally, the audio overview is also getting an upgrade. Once the audio is generated, users can now share it with others with a single tap. Notably, Google Workspace users cannot use this feature to share audio discussions.
