I Tried Google's New AI Notebook LM. How is this free?

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Phillip Twyford

You’re short on time, staring down a massive document, and need the key takeaways fast. Skimming won't cut it. Reading every word definitely won't. So, what’s the move?

Let me save you some frustration: Google's NotebookLM is built for this exact moment. It’s a free AI research assistant that helps you pull insights from documents, videos, and research materials without spending hours sifting through them.

What Is NotebookLM?

NotebookLM is like having a research assistant who actually reads everything. You upload your materials, and instead of dumping a generic summary, it dives deep, answering specific questions, citing sources, and even reshaping the content into formats that fit how you learn.

How To Get Started

No complicated setup. Here’s what to do:

Go to notebooklm.google.com
Sign in with your Google account
Create a new notebook for your project

Each notebook acts as a workspace where you can keep all your related files, research, or materials in one place.

What can you upload?

NotebookLM handles a wide range of content:

PDFs (think reports, academic papers, long guides)
Google Drive files
Website links
YouTube videos (it pulls the transcript for you)
Any plain text

What Happens Next: Fast, Smart Analysis

Once you upload a file, NotebookLM gets to work. Within seconds, it gives you:

A summary of the key themes
Important points pulled directly from the source
A starting point for more detailed questions

When I uploaded a Google Cloud AI trends report, it immediately picked out the five key trends and gave me a clean overview, no fluff, no filler.

Ask It Anything (and Get Real Answers)

This is where NotebookLM shines. Ask questions in plain English like “What’s the main takeaway from this section?” or “How does this trend affect small businesses?” It responds with:

Clear, thoughtful answers based on the actual content
Citations so you know where the info came from
Follow-up responses that go deeper if you keep asking

Learn in the Way That Works for You

Not everyone absorbs information the same way. NotebookLM can rework your content into different formats:

Audio overview – Like a podcast, based on your material
Video explainer – Visual breakdowns for faster understanding
Mind maps – Great for organising and connecting ideas
Flashcards – Useful for studying or remembering key points
Interactive quizzes – Check your understanding instantly
Reports – Pull together key insights across documents

A Quick Test: YouTube Video Breakdown

I tried NotebookLM on one of my own YouTube videos about social media competitor analysis. I dropped the link into a notebook, and in seconds, it summarised the video, pulled out the core steps, and answered detailed follow-up questions,all without me having to rewatch anything.

Why You Should Use It

NotebookLM doesn’t just save time, it changes how you work with information. Here’s what it helps you do:

Skip hours of manual reading
Pull insights from material you wouldn’t normally finish
Choose the learning format that works best for you
Focus on thinking, not just processing

Bottom Line

If you deal with research, content, or complex documents on a regular basis, NotebookLM is worth trying. It’s fast, easy to use, and free. Whether you're a student, content creator, or business owner, it helps you go from overwhelmed to organised in minutes.

Give it a spin at notebooklm.google.com and check out my full video below.

Need help with prompting? Try my SCORE framework.

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