No More Chaos on Gemini Notebook: How the Newly Launched Collections from Google Work
Google has started rolling out Collections for Gemini Notebook, a feature designed to end the confusion accumulated in personal note lists. The service, originally conceived as Project Tailwind during the I/O 2023 event and later rebranded as NotebookLM, updates with a flexible cataloging system that groups files into thematic sets without altering the overall architecture of the application.
We heard you loud and clear: you want a way to organize your notebooks. So...
Meet Collections! A brand new tab, Collections operate like photo albums or playlists: zero rigid folder structures with maximum flexibility. Add notebooks to as many collections as you want, or skip.
The idea behind Collections recalls the functioning of music playlists or photo albums. Instead of forcing users into a rigid folder tree, the tool allows the same notebook to be placed within multiple distinct containers, while keeping the traditional view integrated into the “My Notebooks” section. One can separate work materials from personal research, vacation projects, and recipe collections, reducing the time spent on manual scrolling through tabs.
How Google Notebook's Collections Work
Access to the functionality occurs via a dedicated tab positioned next to the “Shared with me” entry. Within this section, it is possible to create new groupings, add or remove content with just a few clicks, and customize titles by including emojis for immediate visual recognition. The flexible structure ensures that those who prefer the traditional setup can completely ignore the novelty without experiencing disruptions in their daily workflow.
The renaming from NotebookLM to Gemini Notebook has marked the Mountain View group's intention to place the tool at the center of its AI-based ecosystem. The integration of a reordering system represents a response to the requests of the most active users, accustomed to managing dozens of research or brainstorming sessions in the same digital space.
The update presents a clear operational constraint: Collections are intended for individual use only. Currently, there is no option to share collections with other users or workgroups, leaving the function limited to organizing one's own account. Google has, however, confirmed on X its interest in expanding the tool in the future, considering community requests for the introduction of collaborative features.
The release of Collections is taking place gradually on the server side and will reach the entire user base in the coming weeks. The progressive update follows the company’s usual distribution strategy, which prefers to monitor the stability of the service before completing the rollout for all active accounts.