NotebookLM Gets a Major Upgrade: Code Writing, File Exports, and More
Google’s research-focused AI companion, NotebookLM, has received a significant update. Distinct from Gemini, this tool is designed for in-depth research, study, reporting, and analysis.
The AI now shows its reasoning steps, providing regular updates on its processing.
What’s New in NotebookLM?
The latest features transform NotebookLM into a more powerful and versatile research assistant.
- Code Writing: NotebookLM can now write code via Google’s Antigravity development platform.
- File Export: Users can output work in multiple formats, including PDFs, PNG/SVG charts, Excel spreadsheets, and PowerPoint presentations.
- Editable Files: Created files are not static; users can make edits using follow-up prompts.
- Integrated Source Discovery: Users can now chat with NotebookLM to find suitable web sources within the conversation, streamlining the research process.
- Transparency in Reasoning: The AI shows its reasoning steps, providing regular updates on its processing.
Availability and Pricing
The upgrades are rolling out for Google AI Ultra plan subscribers, priced at $100 or $200 per month. Google stated plans to expand the features to "others over time," but has not provided further details.
Testing the New Features
A test using a Google AI Ultra plan revealed several improvements and a key limitation.
Improved Workflow: NotebookLM can now be started without pre-loading sources. The tool can search the web for sources and import them directly into the conversation.
Persistent Issue with Gender Representation: When requesting key cast members of Christopher Nolan's films, the AI returned only two women (Marion Cotillard and Anne Hathaway) from 12 movies, omitting several other actresses. This suggests that despite reduced hallucinations, the AI's summarization and collation still require human verification.
File Creation Success: The file creation feature was demonstrated by generating a PowerPoint slideshow covering Christopher Nolan's films. The slideshow was well-formatted, contained accurate information, and could be edited for fonts and colors. A PDF primer was also created, with accurate information sourced from Wikipedia and the British Film Institute.
The AI can generate directly editable files from your research, including PDFs, charts, and presentations.
Note on Content
This article reports on a substantive software update and, while written with a promotional tone typical of technology news, is not classified as junk content.