Google Renames NotebookLM, Introducing Gemini Notebook: What Changes Compared to Before
Google Renames NotebookLM, Introducing Gemini Notebook: What Changes Compared to Before
Google has announced that NotebookLM has been renamed to Gemini Notebook. Behind this new name comes an update that equips each notebook with a secure cloud computer capable of writing and executing code natively to conduct complex data analyses directly on the sources uploaded by the user.
The product remains a standalone tool dedicated to research, but starting today, it extends further within the Google ecosystem, including the Gemini app and Search. Josh Woodward, head of Google Labs, reminded everyone that it all began at Google I/O 2023 as Project Tailwind, a project designed with a simple goal: to help people learn.
Since then, the user base has grown to over 30 million people and 600,000 organizations, using it for various purposes: from business owners creating interactive onboarding materials to students transforming lecture notes into audio and video summaries.
A Cloud Computer in Every Notebook: Enter Gemini Notebook
The most significant technical innovation concerns code execution, with each notebook now receiving its own isolated cloud environment, where the system can generate and execute scripts to process uploaded data, cross-reference multiple sources, and return analyses that go beyond simple text summaries.
This feature is already available to subscribers of Google AI Ultra and for Workspace business customers with access to AI Ultra or AI Expanded. The rest of the Pro plan users will have to wait: Google has mentioned a gradual rollout on the web in the coming weeks, without specifying a precise date.
Regarding user continuity, notebooks are already accessible and can be created directly within the Gemini app, with full synchronization between the two experiences. Google has hinted that, as mentioned in the official announcement, notebooks will soon also be available within AI Mode in Search, bringing source-based research right into the traditional search box.
In the three years since Project Tailwind, NotebookLM had already accumulated features such as automatically generated podcasts from sources, curated notebooks, video summaries, and support for an increasing number of file types, as well as a plan designed for businesses. However, it is worth noting that several competitors and startups have already replicated the idea of podcasts generated from documents and assisted research tools, drawing inspiration from Google's product.
The question remains whether the new name is merely a piece of Google's strategy to bring every experimental product under the Gemini umbrella. However, the technical substance is there: a native code execution environment within a research tool moves Gemini Notebook closer to a true data analysis environment rather than just a simple document summarizer.