Google has rolled out a major upgrade to its AI-powered research assistant, NotebookLM, introducing new multimedia and collaboration features aimed at students, researchers and professionals.

The centrepiece of the update, announced on 29 July 2025, is the addition of Video Overviews—AI-generated narrated presentations that turn uploaded documents into structured slide decks, complete with visuals, quotes, and data points.

The feature is designed to make complex material easier to digest, combining text, images and audio narration.

Alongside Video Overviews, Google has redesigned NotebookLM’s Studio panel, enabling users to generate multiple outputs—such as study guides, mind maps, audio recaps and video summaries—within the same notebook.

The company also unveiled Featured Notebooks, curated in partnership with publications including The Economist and The Atlantic. These ready-made notebooks provide summaries, mind maps and interactive overviews on selected topics, offering a guided way for learners to explore new areas.

Collaboration has also been improved. Users can now share specific elements—such as a mind map or an audio clip—without giving access to an entire notebook. Link-based sharing makes it easier for teams and educators to distribute content publicly or within closed groups.

NotebookLM, first introduced as a note-taking assistant, has been expanding steadily with AI-driven features. It already provides audio overviews and summaries in more than 50 languages, and the new update is seen as a step toward turning it into a multimedia knowledge hub capable of competing with other AI platforms such as ChatGPT.

The upgrade comes as competition in the generative AI market intensifies. By offering more flexible formats for research and teaching, Google is positioning NotebookLM as a tool not just for note-taking, but for collaborative learning and professional workflows.

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