NotebookLM Can Now Turn Your Notes Into Videos.
Google’s NotebookLM, undoubtedly my favorite AI tool , introduced two new features this week. The app, which can turn your notes into a podcast, can now create educational videos based on your learning materials. It can also create reports or documents based on pre-made templates.
How the new NotebookLM tools work
If you’re unfamiliar, NotebookLM is a large-scale language model similar to the better-known chatbot ChatGPT , but instead of scraping information from across the internet (with all the attendant risks of inaccuracy), it relies solely on the data you enter directly. You can upload PDFs, links, YouTube videos, plain text, and more, then ask the chatbot questions, and it will respond based solely on the data you provide, even providing links to the sources of the answers. As noted, it can also generate AI-powered podcasts in which two voices discuss your material, as well as flashcards, mind maps, and practice tests .
Video and report creation are the newest features in the NotebookLM toolkit. You can try them out by finding the corresponding tile on the right side of the NotebookLM notebook screen. (Although, frankly, the app isn’t impressive, so I always recommend using a desktop computer or mobile browser.)
How video generation works
These educational videos are great for students and anyone looking to learn something new. I created one video based on the materials I used in NotebookLM to prepare for an upcoming certification exam. And while it took longer than the promised five minutes to create, it turned out surprisingly well:
Content from my teaching aids and materials is included, with key information highlighted visually and supplemented with voice-over explanations.
How to Create Reports with NotebookLM
Reports have become a bit more complex. When I clicked “Report,” I was offered the options “Anatomical Explanation” and “Business Development Plan,” based on my material. “Briefing,” “Study Guide,” and “Blog Post” are the standard options that are always available. I asked a friend who also uses NotebookLM for school preparation, and he suggested formats for the “Management Concepts” course materials: “Strategic Analysis” and “Leader Profile.”
It looks like the program will create diagrams in downloadable document format based on your input. I selected “Anatomy Explainer” and, after a few minutes, received a detailed tutorial document, divided into sections such as “Control Center: Nervous System” and “Scaffold: Skeletal System.” The structure was clear, like a textbook, with detailed explanations and context.
Why I like these new features
I’m a big proponent of using NotebookLM for studying, especially because it’s a super easy way to organize materials and ensure your work aligns with what your instructor is looking for. Also, unlike ChatGPT, you can’t use it to do all the work for you; instead, it shows you where it got the information (from the materials you provide), allowing you to study more effectively. Videos and reports are another way to do this, so whether you learn best by listening to audio recordings , watching videos, creating mind maps , using flashcards , or reading notes, NotebookLM is a perfect choice. You can even ask the chatbot clarifying questions if something isn’t clear.
Reports are especially important for other types of work besides studying. I constantly use NotebookLM to organize files and materials needed for work, so the ability to create a reference document or business plan is an added bonus that can be useful to people in a wide range of fields.