Surf The Web For Sources With NotebookLM Now

NotebookLM users now have an exciting new feature that allows them to discover additional sources online for their notebooks by simply describing their needs. This functionality began to roll out on Wednesday, with Google aiming for complete access within a week.

Previously, when creating a notebook, users had to manually input sources—up to 50 for free users and 300 for paid ones. This involved uploading documents, links to websites, Google Docs, YouTube videos, and other file types to build a comprehensive information library.

While you can still add files manually, the new Discover feature now allows users to enhance their existing sources with fresh information from the web. By typing in a topic of interest, NotebookLM will search for hundreds of relevant sources, evaluate their significance, and present up to ten options, each accompanied by a brief summary.

You can easily add the suggested sources to your notebook with a single click. These sources function just like manually added ones, allowing you to ask NotebookLM’s AI model natural language questions about them. Notably, you can specify which sources to include or exclude when making inquiries.

The aim is for NotebookLM to rely solely on information from your selected sources, rather than random details from the internet. It will also provide citations to indicate where the information originated, enabling you to jump directly to the relevant section of the source for more context.

Whether conducting research or jotting down your own notes, you can generate insights based on the AI’s responses or contribute your own notes as supplementary sources for future sessions.

More popular features, such as Audio Overviews, are now available on Gemini alongside the new Mind Maps feature that was introduced recently.

NotebookLM only incorporates sources that you approve, allowing you to view the full original content, decide when to use them, see citations when referenced, and remove any entries later if desired. This should simplify maintaining your notebooks and help eliminate any misinformation that may inadvertently enter them.