Why You Should Only Use Google’s NotebookLM in a Browser
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I’m a huge fan of Google’s NotebookLM , an AI-powered tool that acts like a personal ChatGPT. I’ve recommended it for studying , used it numerous times in my work, and overall consider it one of the best programs available. But recently, I tried using it on my phone, not just in my desktop browser, and it was a surprising failure. Here’s how I got it working on my mobile device, and why you should stick with the desktop version for now.
What is NotebookLM?
NotebookLM is a language model that uses only the resources you provide. Like ChatGPT, it can offer overviews, plans, and help with studying or organizing, but unlike ChatGPT, it doesn’t rely on information from the web. Instead, you upload PDFs, links, plain text, and documents, and when you ask it a question, NotebookLM uses only these resources to answer.
Here’s a practical example: I often use it when writing an article that includes numerous interviews. I copy the interview transcripts and paste them into NotebookLM, then issue the command: “Find me three quotes about the value of good sleep.” If three of my sources mention the importance of getting a good night’s sleep, I immediately get three quotes and a hyperlink to where they appear in the interviews so I can go back and read the context. This greatly simplifies organization, and I don’t have to waste time searching for the right word in each transcript.
It’s even better for studying. You can upload all your slides, digital texts, and class notes, then have it generate practice tests, flashcards , notes, or essay plans. One of its coolest features is the ability to create a fake podcast with two hosts, each with their own distinct vocal characteristics and even a wheezing sound. The two AI-powered hosts discuss your sources in an informative conversation, just like real podcasters, and you can listen and learn from anywhere.
It’s been incredibly useful to me, and using it doesn’t feel unethical like other AI-powered chatbots, because it synthesizes information I’ve already found, compiled, and processed. I don’t feel like a fraud when I use it; on the contrary, I get a small efficiency boost in my organization while still getting most of the work done. Plus, there’s no risk of it making up false facts or introducing irrelevant or erroneous information, as with ChatGPT. It relies solely on what you provide.
Mobile app problem
That said, I’ve become obsessed with this app and have remained so after using it exclusively in a desktop browser for the past six months or so. However, last weekend, I was studying for an upcoming certification exam and, as usual, used NotebookLM to create flashcards, quizzes, and fake podcasts. I was also cleaning my apartment and doing laundry, which involved a lot of running to and from the laundromat. I decided to use the NotebookLM iPhone app to study on the go; I figured that since the app worked so well on the desktop, it would work just as well in the app. Turns out, that’s not the case.
In the app, you can only view your sources, interact with the chatbot, and listen to your own podcasts. Here’s what you can’t do:
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Generate cards
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View existing cards
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Create a test
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Take existing tests
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Select the sources from which you will create a podcast, quiz, flashcards, or chat topic.
One of the advantages of the browser version is the ability to toggle sources. For example, if you download a separate PDF for five different chapters of a book, you can select only Chapter 1 and Chapter 2 before creating a quiz or flashcards. If you select all chapters, your quizzes, flashcards, podcasts, or chats will use information from all of these sources. Narrowing your search allows you to study the material more focused.
You can’t do this in the app, but that’s irrelevant, since you can’t generate (or use) anything in the app anyway. You can create a podcast, but only one that uses all your sources. Other features—quizzes and flashcards—are completely unavailable.
Workarounds for NotebookLM
The first method I found was a bit annoying: I’d create podcasts for each chapter on my computer and then listen to them on my phone’s mobile app while I ran errands. I had to juggle my schedule, switching between cleaning, laundry, and computer time, so I wouldn’t have been able to cope without a study podcast to review, but overall, I got the hang of it. This won’t work with flashcards, quizzes, or mind maps, but if you want podcasts, it can work if you plan ahead.
The second option is to avoid using the app altogether. Most websites and companies want to push you to use the app, supposedly for data collection, but remember that your phone has a browser too. I visited the NotebookLM website in a mobile browser, and while it’s smaller and harder to navigate than on a desktop, I was able to use it to create flashcards, quizzes, mind maps, and more. The mobile browser allows you to mark and unmark sources, which is ideal.
I hope the app gets better. NotebookLM is a great resource that’s been incredibly helpful, but it would be much better if it were more user-friendly as an app. I can’t be tied to a laptop all the time; the real value of learning with flashcards, especially since they’re accessible and can be accessed anywhere, even from a phone.