6 Smart Prompts Make NotebookLM Even More Useful

Google's NotebookLM is one of the few tools that truly understands artificial intelligence (AI). Instead of being packed with features solely for AI purposes, it offers capabilities that the average user will actually need after trying it once. But here's a little secret – using NotebookLM merely as an upgraded PDF reader only unlocks a fraction of its potential.

The real power lies in how you use the prompts. Here are 6 smart prompts to help you get the most out of NotebookLM and its Studio outputs.

Presentation Slide Template

A few months ago, Google added a feature called Slide Deck to NotebookLM, which allows you to convert resources uploaded to your notebook into a complete presentation.

This feature is powered by Google's Nano Banana image model, and you can currently create two slide deck formats: Detailed Deck or Presenter Slides. The Detailed Deck format is perfect for creating a comprehensive presentation with maximum information from your sources, while Presenter Slides are optimized for on-screen clarity, focusing on concise bullet points and images to make your presentation easy to follow.

In addition to choosing the format and language of the Slide Deck, you can also choose between short or default length. However, if you press the Generate button after configuring these settings, the generated slides may look very generic.

Although it will be customized by source and only include relevant images reflecting the content in your notebook, you can really only use it as a starting point. And since NotebookLM doesn't yet allow you to edit the Slide Deck, the output can't be used for anything more than a draft or template.

However, a detailed prompt is very effective with the Slide Deck feature. By clearly specifying everything, from the presentation title and content of each slide to the overall design layout and visual style, you can ask NotebookLM to create a more purposeful presentation that's ready to present right from the start.

Prompt "5 Essential Questions"

Stop Using NotebookLM Just to Find Answers

NotebookLM's Chat feature is a great way to thoroughly review your information sources and highlight what truly matters. Many people use NotebookLM solely to cross-reference their sources. However, you can only ask a certain number of questions before things start to become disjointed or repetitive. Fortunately, a Reddit prompt helps reverse this process.

Instead of you figuring things out yourself, this prompt asks NotebookLM to step back, identify the core ideas in everything you've uploaded, and formulate them into five essential questions. While many people prefer to personalize the prompt based on their notebook content, this is the general version:

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Audio Formats Overview

A Diverse Combination

NotebookLM's viral Audio Overview feature, which lets you transform your sources into engaging podcasts, is one of the most popular passive learning methods. People create podcasts, plug in their AirPods, and learn on the go. With Audio Overview, they've found that the more they create and listen to, the more monotonous it becomes.

Even when they discuss completely different topics, you'll start to notice patterns in how the presenter speaks, explains ideas, and switches between prompts. That's why customizing them with prompts makes a big difference. Here are some popular Audio Overview prompts:

Prompt 'Teaching a 12-year-old'

Have you heard of the Feynman technique? Chances are you already know about it – you just may not know its name. Essentially, the Feynman technique is about learning by teaching: If you can explain a concept simply and clearly, you truly understand it. And if you can't, that's often a sign that your knowledge is lacking. Here's a prompt that directly applies this idea to NotebookLM's Audio Overviews feature:

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Quick Meeting Summary

Meeting notes have fundamentally changed since the advent of AI, and NotebookLM's Audio Overviews feature is a great way to passively summarize key points. However, a conversational discussion, like a podcast, isn't always the most efficient way to absorb information when you're short on time. That's where the prompt below comes in handy:

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Prompt for an Interesting Podcast Program

Sometimes, you just want to listen to a really, really chaotic podcast. Why not turn your sources into an impromptu, lively discussion using NotebookLM? With this Reddit-found prompt (slightly modified), you can create scenarios where the host clashes, exchanges witty jokes, and improvises based on spontaneous behind-the-scenes stories. It's an incredibly fun way to listen to your sources in a completely different yet entertaining format.

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There Are Countless Possibilities!

The six prompts mentioned above are just the tip of the iceberg. Almost every feature of NotebookLM is highly customizable – it's entirely up to you how detailed you want to be in your prompts!