NotebookLM Review: How Google’s AI Research Assistant Can Simplify Your Life

I uploaded a 47-page employee handbook to NotebookLM and asked: “What’s the policy on remote work?” Ten seconds later, I had my answer with the exact page number cited.

That’s the magic of NotebookLM. It’s like having a research assistant who’s already read everything you’re supposed to read.

Google’s free AI tool lets you upload documents, websites, YouTube videos, and notes, then ask questions about that specific content. Unlike ChatGPT, which draws from general knowledge, NotebookLM only uses the sources you give it. Every answer cites exactly where it came from.

The quick answer: Go to notebooklm.google.com, create a notebook, upload your documents (PDFs, websites, YouTube links all work), and start asking questions. It’s free. The killer feature is “Audio Overview,” which generates a podcast-style conversation about your documents. Perfect for commute listening or reviewing material while doing chores.

Here’s what it does well and where it falls short.

What is NotebookLM?

NotebookLM is a free AI tool from Google that acts as your personal research assistant. You upload documents, websites, YouTube videos, or notes, and then you can have a conversation with the AI about that specific content.

Think of it like ChatGPT, but instead of drawing from the entire internet, it only uses the sources you give it. This means the answers are grounded in your actual materials, not general knowledge that might be outdated or irrelevant to your situation.

The killer feature? It can automatically generate summaries, study guides, FAQs, and even audio podcasts from your documents. Upload a 50-page PDF, and NotebookLM will give you the key points in minutes.

How to Use NotebookLM: Getting Started

Setting up NotebookLM takes about two minutes:

Step 1: Go to notebooklm.google.com and sign in with your Google account.

Step 2: Click “New Notebook” to create a project.

Step 3: Add your sources. You can upload PDFs, paste website URLs, link YouTube videos, connect Google Docs, or just paste plain text.

Step 4: Start asking questions. Type anything you want to know about your uploaded content.

That’s it. No complicated setup, no subscription required for basic use.

This tutorial walks through the basics:

Real Ways NotebookLM Can Help You

Here’s where NotebookLM actually shines for everyday users:

Learning Something New

Taking an online course? Upload the transcripts, PDFs, and supplementary materials. Then ask NotebookLM to explain confusing concepts, create study guides, or quiz you on the material. It’s like having a tutor who’s read everything you’re supposed to read.

Research Projects

Writing a report or working on a project? Upload all your research sources and ask questions across all of them at once. “What do these three articles say about X?” or “Find contradictions between these sources.” NotebookLM cites which document each answer comes from.

Making Sense of Long Documents

Got a 100-page employee handbook, insurance policy, or legal document? Upload it and ask specific questions. “What’s the policy on remote work?” or “What happens if I miss a payment?” Way faster than reading the whole thing.

Meeting and Interview Prep

Preparing for a job interview? Upload the job description, company info, and your resume. Ask NotebookLM to suggest questions they might ask, identify gaps in your experience, or help you articulate how your background fits the role.

Content Creation

Need to write about a topic? Upload your research and ask NotebookLM to create an outline, identify key themes, or suggest angles you might have missed. It’s not writing for you, but it helps organize your thinking.

The Audio Overview Feature

This is NotebookLM’s most unique feature. Click “Generate Audio Overview” and it creates a podcast-style conversation between two AI hosts discussing your documents.

It sounds gimmicky, but it’s genuinely useful. The hosts explain concepts conversationally, make connections between ideas, and sometimes catch things you missed while reading. It’s great for:

Commute listening. Reviewing material while doing chores. Getting a different perspective on dense content. People who learn better by listening than reading.

The audio quality is surprisingly good. It doesn’t sound robotic.

NotebookLM Pros and Cons

What’s Great

Free to use. No subscription required for core features.

Sources are cited. Every answer shows which document it came from, so you can verify.

Privacy-focused. Your documents aren’t used to train Google’s AI models.

Multiple source types. PDFs, websites, YouTube, Google Docs, plain text all work.

Audio overviews. Genuinely useful, not just a gimmick.

What’s Not Great

Limited sources per notebook. You can only add up to 50 sources per notebook, which can be restrictive for large projects.

No real-time collaboration. You can share notebooks, but it’s not like Google Docs where multiple people edit simultaneously.

Requires good sources. NotebookLM is only as good as what you upload. Garbage in, garbage out.

Google account required. If you’re avoiding Google’s ecosystem, this isn’t for you.

NotebookLM vs. ChatGPT: What’s the Difference?

People often ask which is better. The answer: they’re for different things.

Use ChatGPT when: You need general knowledge, creative writing help, coding assistance, or answers about topics you don’t have documents for.

Use NotebookLM when: You have specific documents and want answers grounded in those sources. Research projects, studying, analyzing your own materials.

ChatGPT knows a lot about everything but can hallucinate. NotebookLM only knows what you give it but stays accurate to those sources. They complement each other.

Common Questions About NotebookLM

Is NotebookLM really free?

Yes, the core features are free. Google may add premium features later, but as of now, you can use it without paying.

Is my data safe?

Google says your uploaded documents aren’t used to train AI models. Your data stays in your notebook and isn’t shared. That said, you’re still trusting Google with your documents.

What file types can I upload?

PDFs, Google Docs, Google Slides, website URLs, YouTube video links, copied text, and audio files. Most common formats work.

Can I use it on mobile?

Yes, NotebookLM works in mobile browsers, though the experience is better on desktop for uploading and organizing sources.

Is NotebookLM Worth Using?

If you regularly deal with multiple documents, research, or learning new material, yes. It’s one of the most practical AI tools I’ve used because it solves a real problem: making sense of scattered information.

It won’t replace deep reading or critical thinking. But it dramatically speeds up the process of finding what you need across multiple sources and generating useful summaries.

Try it with one project. Upload a few documents you’re working with and ask some questions. You’ll know within 10 minutes if it fits your workflow.

For more AI tools that can help with everyday tasks, check out our Start Here page. If you’re interested in AI for other uses, our AI Content Summarizers Guide and AI Writing Assistant Guide cover related tools.