NotebookLM, one of Google’s lesser-known AI products, has just received a significant update that might finally put it on the map: web search integration. For those unfamiliar, NotebookLM is Google’s AI-powered note-taking tool that leverages your personal data—think PDFs, Google Docs, Slides, websites, and more. You feed it your sources, and it can generate summaries, reports, FAQs, and now, curated search results tailored to your needs.
The standout new feature, called Discover Sources, lets users search the web directly within NotebookLM. When you describe a topic of interest, the tool scans hundreds of web sources in seconds. It then handpicks up to 10 of the most relevant ones, complete with annotations explaining why each source might be useful for your project. With a single click, you can add these to your notebook as part of your reference collection.
Want to try it out? Here’s how:
- Visit notebooklm.google.com.
- Open a notebook.
- In the Sources panel, hit the Discover button.
- Describe the topic you’re curious about.
But web search isn’t the only recent upgrade. Earlier this year, NotebookLM added YouTube video support. Simply paste a publicly available video URL, and it becomes part of your source material—complete with summaries, quotes, and an embedded player. Google also introduced Audio Overview, a feature that transforms documents, charts, slides, and more into shareable AI-generated audio summaries.
NotebookLM is now available for both individual users and organizations. If you’re in an educational (EDU) or enterprise setting, Workspace admins can enable it domain-wide.
Despite its versatility, NotebookLM remains one of Google’s most underrated and underutilized tools. When used effectively, it’s a game-changer—especially for students, writers, analysts, or anyone wrestling with complex research materials. With updates like these, NotebookLM is quietly shaping up to be a tool that could redefine how we approach AI-assisted research. If you haven’t explored it yet, now’s the perfect time to give it a shot.