July 13, 2023 – In a significant announcement at this year’s Google I/O 2023 conference, Google unveiled its inaugural “AI Notetaking Application,” previously known as “Project Tailwind.” This experimental app has recently been renamed as “Notebook LM” and is now undergoing limited testing.
The inclusion of “LM” in the name “Notebook LM” represents “Language Model,” reflecting Google’s intent to harness the capabilities and potential of language models. It aims to offer users a faster way to derive essential insights by combining their existing content with the power of this language model. Imagine having a virtual research assistant at your disposal, capable of summarizing facts, explaining complex viewpoints, brainstorming ideas, and making novel connections based on your selected sources.
Notebook LM sets itself apart from traditional AI chatbots by allowing users to “embed” the language model into their notes and materials. This feature enables the creation of a personalized AI that excels in source-grounding, meaning it effectively incorporates information from the documents users choose. By scanning and prioritizing the information contained within those selected documents during the training phase, Notebook LM develops a deep understanding of the user’s relevant information. Starting today, users can establish Notebook LM within specific Google documents, with support for additional formats coming soon.
According to Google, Notebook LM offers several functionalities, including the ability to add summaries to user-uploaded files and answer questions related to those documents. For example, a medical student could upload a scientific article on neuroscience and instruct Notebook LM to “create a vocabulary list of dopamine-related key terms.”
Furthermore, authors working on biographies could upload their research notes and request Notebook LM to “summarize all interactions between Houdini and Conan Doyle.” Notebook LM can also generate creative ideas, catering to scenarios such as content creators uploading their thoughts on a new video concept and requesting a script for that particular theme. Additionally, entrepreneurs seeking funding can upload their investment plans and inquire, “What questions would potential investors ask?”
While Google emphasizes that Notebook LM is currently an experimental product, they urge users to fact-check the generated content against their own materials. However, Notebook LM simplifies this process by displaying corresponding citations from the original files in the generated content.
At present, Notebook LM is being made available to a select group of users in the United States.
