Google is about to make it loads simpler to do analysis on the go.
On Could 20, it’ll formally launch native NotebookLM apps on each the Apple App Retailer and Google Play Retailer, and you’ll register now to have them routinely downloaded to your gadget.
What’s NotebookLM?
NotebookLM is Google’s AI “analysis assistant” that debuted as an online browser-based service final yr. It is usually described as a sensible pocket book — one the place you may dump PDFs, articles, YouTube hyperlinks, plain textual content, Google Docs or Slides, and so forth, after which ask the AI to summarize key factors, reply questions, and even flip your supply materials right into a mini podcast.
NotebookLM is powered by the newest Gemini fashions. All the things you ask comes with clear citations, so you may see precisely which sentences the AI pulled out of your sources. That makes it nice for college students, professionals, and anybody who must do analysis.
What the NotebookLM apps do
Since NotebookLM launched, you have had to make use of it in a browser, which labored wonderful however was restricted in the event you misplaced your web connection or wished true background audio playback. The brand new iOS and Android cellular apps purpose to resolve each these issues.
They assist full offline mode — which means you may obtain AI-generated audio summaries for later — they usually’ll hold taking part in within the background even in the event you change to a different app or lock your display screen. Primarily based on screenshots of the apps from the app retailer listings, it seems like they will include a number of different options, a few of that are much like the present cellular web site.
- Dwelling display screen: On the house display screen, you may see tabs for Current, Shared, Title and Downloaded, plus a scrollable listing of your notebooks. Every pocket book tile has a giant play button. Faucet it to launch an “Audio Overview.”
- Audio participant: This can be a full-screen mode that not solely reveals an animated waveform but additionally helps you to “be part of the podcast” by leaping in to ask follow-ups or get clarifications from the AI voices.
- Create new: A big floating motion button on the backside of the display screen helps you to begin a recent pocket book. Simply faucet it to add paperwork, paste textual content, add URLs — or use your telephone’s share sheet to drag content material from different apps into NotebookLM.
- Pocket book View: Whenever you open a pocket book, a persistent toolbar on the backside provides you fast entry to Sources (the place you see your uploaded objects), Chat (the place you chat with the AI about them), and Studio (for settings and utilization stats).
Google’s screenshots additionally reveal how the app seems on tablets: a split-screen format places the AI chat beside your supply listing, letting you multitask extra such as you would on a laptop computer.
Tips on how to get the NotebookLM apps
The native apps will exchange the prevailing Progressive Net App, bringing deeper integration with iOS and Android in addition to system options like push notifications. It seems like Google will launch the apps in beta, with Could 20 because the goal date for iOS — proper in time for I/O 2025, the place Google is anticipated to announce extra AI information and can probably even showcase these new apps.
- Pre-register: Go to the App Retailer model or Google Play Retailer model and faucet “Pre-order” or “Pre-register.”
- Computerized obtain: On Could 20 (the primary day of Google I/O 2025), your telephone will obtain the app routinely.
- Register: Open the app, register along with your Google account, and also you’re all set.
- Improve to NotebookLM Plus (optionally available): Remember there’s NotebookLM Plus, obtainable with Google One AI Premium. It has all the things NotebookLM presents, plus 5x extra Audio Overviews, queries, and sources per pocket book, and the flexibility to customise the type and size of your pocket book responses, and you’ll share notebooks with a workforce and get utilization analytics.
With new apps, NotebookLM might be extra accessible and cellular — able to summarize, clarify, and even entertain you with an AI podcast when you’re on the subway, on a stroll, or touring the world over with spotty Wi-Fi.
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