Google NotebookLM

What is NotebookLM?

NotebookLM is an AI-powered research and note-taking assistant developed by Google. Unlike general AI chatbots that pull information from the entire internet, NotebookLM is source-grounded. This means it acts as a private expert on the specific documents you provide, significantly reducing AI "hallucinations" and giving you answers you can actually trust.

Getting Started

To begin using NotebookLM, you just need a standard or workspace Google Account.

  1. Sign In: Log in to your USF Gmail account
  2. Navigate to Google Apps and click on the NotebookLM app 
  3. Create Your First Notebook: Click "New Notebook" to get started. Think of a "notebook" as a dedicated workspace or folder for a specific project.

How to use?

Once your notebook is created, the workflow is built around three simple steps:

1. Upload Your Sources

You can upload up to 50 sources per notebook (with a limit of 500,000 words or 200MB per source). Supported formats include:

  • PDFs and Google Docs / Slides
  • Websites and YouTube video links
  • Copied text and Audio files

2. Interact and Chat

  • Ask Questions: Type questions directly into the chat. NotebookLM will scan your uploaded documents to give you answers, complete with in-line citations so you can click and verify the exact source text.
  • Create Notes: Save important AI responses or jot down your own thoughts directly within the workspace.

3. Generate Studio Artifacts

NotebookLM can instantly transform your dense documents into creative formats located in the Studio panel:

  • Audio Overviews: Generate an AI-powered podcast where two hosts discuss and summarize your material.
  • Video Overviews: Create animated, narrative visual breakdowns (including immersive Cinematic Video Overviews for advanced tiers).
  • Study Guides: Automatically draft study guides, FAQs, flashcards, timelines, or brief summaries.

Resources

Mobile Access: You can use NotebookLM on the go via the web or download the official mobile apps on iOS and Android via NotebookLM App Info.

Privacy Guardrails: Your data is kept private. Google does not use your uploaded data or queries to train its AI models unless you explicitly submit feedback.
 

Help and Support

If you run into issues with source limits, file uploads, or account access, use these official support channels:

  • Official Help Center: Detailed documentation and tutorials can be found at the NotebookLM Help Center.
  • FAQ Page: Get quick answers to common troubleshooting questions at the NotebookLM FAQ.

Last updated:  May 29, 2026