Google expands NotebookLM with Plus formula and launches new features for paid and free users.
Google is giving NotebookLM a major update. The AI notebook comes with a new interface that distinguishes more clearly between the three windows Sources, Chat and Studio. Under the hood is now Gemini 2.0, the brand new version of Gemini.
NotebookLM Plus
NotebookLM has been a free tool since its launch, but that is about to change. The basic version remains free, but Google is adding a paid NotebookLM Plus feature. The Plus feature can handle up to 300 sources at once (instead of 50) and includes more options to customize the notebook to your liking. You can share your notebook with your colleagues.
The NotebookLM subscription is part of the Gemini Business ($19.20 a month) and Gemini Enterprise packages ($28.86 a month), but will also be available as a standalone product through Google Cloud. Early next year, Google will make it available through the paid Google One subscription for 21.99 euros a month. Google guarantees that data stays within the organization and is not used to train AI models.
Talkshow
NotebookLM’s most notable feature is that you can generate an “audio summary” based on the content you share. Two artificial hosts then have a podcast-style conversation about the resources. Google is making that feature more interactive so you can “interrupt” the hosts during the conversation.
This allows you to direct the conversation so that the hosts do not deviate from the topic or ask specific questions. While listening, a Participate button will appear. If you click it, the host will “dial” you into the conversation and you can ask questions. This feature is rolling out in beta to all users.
Google launched NotebookLM last summer. The tool is meant to be a research assistant that helps you plow through different types of sources, from pdf files to audio. Unlike ChatGPT, NotebookLM limits itself to the sources you share to reduce the likelihood of hallucinations. So you don’t ask the tool general knowledge questions, but specific questions about a document.