Summary
An overview of Google NotebookLM — what it is, how it works, its key features (source-grounded AI, Studio tools, multi-source notebooks, citations, and notes), and common use cases for Bowdoin faculty, staff, and students.
Body
Questions
- What is Gemini Notebook?
- Who developed Gemini Notebook?
- What can Gemini Notebook do?
- How is Gemini Notebook different from other AI tools like ChatGPT or LibreChat?
- What are the Studio tools in Gemini Notebook?
- What is Gemini Notebook commonly used for?
- Can I use Gemini Notebook with my Bowdoin account?
Environment
This article applies to all current Bowdoin College faculty, staff, and students. Gemini Notebook is a Google AI tool accessible with a Bowdoin Google account at notebooklm.google.com. See Accessing Gemini Notebook using a Bowdoin College account in the Related Articles section for sign-in instructions.
Resolution
What is Gemini Notebook?
Gemini Notebook (previously known as NotebookLM) is an AI-powered research and note-taking tool developed by Google. It allows you to upload source materials — such as PDFs, Google Docs, web links, YouTube videos, and audio files — and interact with them through a conversational AI interface. Unlike general-purpose AI tools such as ChatGPT or LibreChat, Gemini Notebook generates responses based only on the documents you provide, which significantly reduces the likelihood of fabricated or inaccurate information.
Key features
Source-grounded AI
Gemini Notebook's responses are grounded exclusively in the sources you upload. When it answers a question, it includes inline citations pointing back to the specific passages in your source material, making it easy to verify information and trace where an answer came from.
Studio tools
Within each notebook, you can use Studio tools to generate different types of output from your sources:
- Audio Overview — generates an AI podcast-style discussion of your sources
- Slide Deck — creates a presentation based on your source content
- Video Overview — generates an explainer video presented by AI
- Mind Map — creates a visual mind map of key concepts from your sources
- Reports — generates a written report based on your sources
- Flashcards — generates AI flashcards for studying
- Quiz — creates an interactive quiz based on your source material
- Infographic — generates a visual summary infographic
- Data Table — extracts and organises data from your sources into a table
Multi-source notebooks
You can upload up to 50 sources per notebook and ask questions that span across all of them. This makes Gemini Notebook particularly useful for comparative research or synthesising information from multiple documents at once.
Citations and references
Every Gemini Notebook response includes inline citations linking back to the specific passages in your uploaded sources. Select any citation number to jump directly to the relevant passage — ideal for verifying AI-generated summaries before using them in your work.
Notes and organisation
Save AI-generated responses as notes, write your own notes, and organise your research within the notebook. Notes are stored alongside your sources, keeping your research in one place.
Common use cases
- Research — upload multiple papers or articles and ask Gemini Notebook to compare findings, identify themes, or summarise key arguments
- Study and exam prep — upload course readings or notes and generate flashcards, quizzes, or summaries
- Course preparation — faculty can upload syllabi, readings, and materials to generate discussion questions or lecture outlines
- Document review — upload policy documents, reports, or contracts and ask targeted questions about their content
- Podcast-style overviews — use the Audio Overview feature to get an engaging spoken summary of complex materials
Additional Help
If you need further assistance, you have several options:
- Bowdoin Bot: Chat with Bowdoin Bot directly from any KB page for instant answers.
- Phone: Call the Bowdoin College Service Desk at (207) 725-3030.
- In person: Visit the Tech Hub in Smith Union during business hours.
- Submit a ticket: Request assistance through the Service Catalog.
Additional Resources