Google NotebookLM is an AI-powered notebook that helps faculty work more effectively with course materials offering a practical way to synthesize readings, plan instruction, support research, and model ethical AI use. NotebookLM is an AI assistant designed to help you analyze, summarize, question, and connect ideas across sources you choose to upload. Unlike open-ended chat tools, NotebookLM grounds its responses in the sources you provide (ex. webpages, articles, PDFs, syllabi, lecture notes, policies, or datasets).
Note: Unlike other AI chat tools, NotebookLM does not “hallucinate” from the open web. It reasons from the materials you provide, citing them as it responds.
What does NotebookLM do:
- Uploads & analyzes documents: You can upload or link PDFs, Google Docs, Slides, websites, videos, and more, and NotebookLM uses AI to process the content.
- Summarizes and explains: It can generate concise overviews, structured summaries, and clear explanations of dense material.
- Answers questions: You can ask it questions about the content you’ve given it, and it will respond based on those sources.
- Creates enhanced formats: It can produce study guides, timelines, mind maps, audio overviews (podcast-like summaries), and even video and slide decks to make complex info easier to absorb.
How to Access Google NotebookLM
Faculty can access NotebookLM by visiting notebooklm.google.com and signing into their Google account. Create a notebook and upload your materials.