NotebookLM is Google's AI-powered note-taking application , currently powered by Gemini 2.0. Although initially a test, this research assistant truly exploded in popularity after introducing AI-generated podcasts (called Audio Overviews) based on user input.
Later, the app took it a step further with "Interactive Mode," allowing users to participate in podcasts and ask the host questions related to the content. Most recently, NotebookLM introduced Mind Maps, making it easier to visualize the relationships between multiple ideas and concepts.
Clearly, the developers have been working tirelessly to make NotebookLM the next top productivity app. For those who use the app daily and have been with it since the beginning, here are four features they hope Google will add in the near future.
4. Improved organizational features
Whether you want to create an audio overview or a simple summary of your 200-page reading, everything in NotebookLM requires creating notebooks. Notebooks serve as the primary way to organize projects, similar to folders, but each notebook exists independently. The problem is, if you use NotebookLM extensively, the number of notebooks you create can quickly get out of control.
Unfortunately, NotebookLM's current organizational system is completely chaotic. There's no way to group notebooks into folders, let alone subfolders. Ideally, it would be possible to organize notes by grouping all notebooks for a specific course into one folder, and then grouping those course folders into a different folder for each semester.
3. Options to view the original document in the notebook
After creating a notebook in NotebookLM, the next step is to upload the reference material you want the tool to summarize, analyze, or create audio overviews of. Currently, you can add PDFs, URLs (including public YouTube videos), Google Slides and Docs, or even copied and pasted text. People almost always upload PDFs or lecture slides (converting PowerPoint to PDF since NotebookLM doesn't support .pptx files — another feature many people would love to see).
Now, the problem is that lecture slides often include important diagrams and code snippets, but after uploading them, you can't view them in their original format in NotebookLM. Clicking on the PDF source only shows the extracted text, which is useless when visual elements are just as important as the text. This forces you to open your document sources in a separate PDF viewer or on a different device like an iPad to be able to follow along correctly.
2. A standalone NotebookLM application
Google NotebookLM was released in July 2023, meaning it's been almost three years since the tool launched as a beta product. Google dropped the "beta" status in October 2024 and even introduced a paid version, NotebookLM for Business, for professionals and teams. Despite the application's rapid development, it still lacks a standalone app! Since its launch, NotebookLM has only been accessible through a web browser, with no dedicated mobile or desktop versions.
For those who primarily use their iPad for all college-related tasks, including note-taking and studying, having to open a new browser tab every time they need NotebookLM (basically all study time) is incredibly inconvenient. No web application offers the seamless experience of a dedicated app, and the iPad browser is often quite cumbersome, making things worse. Because it's only accessible through its website, it also means NotebookLM is entirely dependent on an internet connection.
1. Transcript for Audio Overviews
Many people can't watch movies or TV shows without subtitles, so it's no surprise they felt the need for transcripts for NotebookLM's Audio Overviews. Surprisingly, NotebookLM added the ability to jump into podcasts and ask questions to the host before introducing the transcript for Audio Overviews.
This simple yet helpful addition makes it easy to skim through content, read along as the Audio Overview plays, and quickly review specific details without having to listen to the entire thing again. It also saves you from fast-forwarding through hours-long podcasts just to find a key point!
Google has really done a great job with NotebookLM. It's practical, useful, doesn't generate fake information, and is one of the best AI tools available for students and researchers. However, it's undeniable that it's still in development. So, Google will definitely add these features sooner or later — hopefully as soon as possible!