01
The short answer: a rename, not a separate product
Google announced on July 16, 2026 that NotebookLM is now Gemini Notebook. The company says it remains a standalone product focused on research and learning, while becoming more deeply connected to the Gemini app and Google Search.
Existing NotebookLM users do not need a separate migration target, while new users will encounter both names for some time. Our directory keeps the `/tools/notebooklm` route and labels the new name explicitly so historical links and search terms remain useful.
02
What did not change: sources come before answers
Gemini Notebook still begins with a notebook built around one project. It can accept PDFs, documents, spreadsheets, images, audio, web pages, and public YouTube videos, and it can discover new sources across the web or Google Drive.
Chat uses the currently enabled sources and provides inline citations. That does not guarantee every answer is correct, but it gives the reader a path back to the original context—more useful for reports, courses, meeting records, and topic research than an untraceable fluent answer.
03
Beyond summaries: one source set, multiple outputs
The Studio panel can transform one source set into reports, Audio and Video Overviews, mind maps, flashcards, quizzes, infographics, and slide decks. These formats suit different learning and sharing contexts, but they remain AI-generated and should be checked against the sources.
04
The substantive changes: cloud code execution and Google integration
The rename announcement also introduced a more substantive upgrade: Google is adding a secure cloud computer to notebooks so Gemini Notebook can write and execute code for deeper source-grounded data analysis. At announcement time, it was available to Google AI Ultra and eligible Workspace accounts, with a web rollout to Pro users planned over the following weeks.
Rollout features are easily misreported as universally available. Check the current account badge and help page instead of treating an announcement roadmap as completed distribution.
05
The free tier supports real work, while limits shape scale
The current help page lists 100 notebooks, 50 sources per notebook, 50 chats per day, and 3 Audio Overviews per day for the free Standard tier. A source can contain up to 500,000 words and a local upload can be up to 200MB. Plus, Pro, and Ultra primarily raise these limits and provide earlier or higher feature access.
Google AI pricing and eligibility vary by region and between personal, Workspace, and education accounts. This page records official limits without presenting one regional price as universal; verify the current account plan before purchasing.
06
A practical way to begin
Do not begin by dumping every file into one notebook. Pick a defined task—such as comparing how three reports view one market—create a dedicated notebook, add a small set of strong sources, and ask for agreements, conflicts, and citations. Once the evidence checks out, generate a briefing, audio overview, or slide deck.
07
