Google has announced a major across-the-board upgrade to NotebookLM, introducing new agentic capabilities and more advanced reasoning designed for complex, multi-step research workflows.
Launched three years ago as an experimental Google Labs product, NotebookLM was built to help users understand any topic. It has since evolved into a widely used research and knowledge tool that helps organize ideas, identify connections across documents, and generate insights.
Gemini 3.5 upgrade with cloud computing
The upgraded NotebookLM now runs on Gemini 3.5 and Antigravity, improving accuracy, reliability, and reasoning clarity.
Each notebook includes a secure cloud computer, enabling code execution directly within the workspace for deeper research and advanced analysis. The system also includes 100+ curated software skills, expanding its ability to process and interpret complex information.
Performance gains reported:
- Over 65% average win rate across top evaluation categories (15-point improvement over baseline)
- 69.9% win rate in large document analysis
- 78.2% win rate in web research and source discovery
Expanded output formats and customization
NotebookLM now supports a wider range of output formats, allowing users to convert research into structured, downloadable files with greater control over instructions. Outputs are generated from user sources and can be edited after creation through the studio panel.
Supported formats include:
Documents
- PDF reports with charts and tables
- DOCX
- Markdown
- Text files
Data formats
- CSV
- JSON
- Microsoft Excel (XLSX)
Presentations
- Microsoft PowerPoint (PPTX)
Visual formats
- Charts and data visualizations (PNG, SVG)
- Images via Nano Banana (PNG, JPG, GIF)
Real-world use cases
Google highlights how the upgraded NotebookLM can support different workflows across research, technical, and business domains.
- Research and data analysis: Researchers can combine datasets from different regions, even when formats are inconsistent. The system can run code, incorporate web research, and generate structured outputs such as charts and reports.
- Technical documentation: Technical professionals can convert complex specifications into simplified outputs, including guides, slide decks, and step-by-step implementation roadmaps.
- Business decision-making: Small business owners can analyze marketing campaigns by comparing sales performance with ad spend, helping measure impact and guide expansion decisions.
Easier research with agentic sourcing
NotebookLM now allows users to start research from simple ideas or questions instead of requiring pre-uploaded documents.
It can:
- Build source repositories directly in chat
- Use Google Search to find relevant web sources
- Identify related works and primary sources, including in other languages
- Add selected materials directly into notebooks
All sources remain under user control, with clear attribution to ensure transparency and trust.
Availability and rollout
The upgraded NotebookLM experience is rolling out globally on the web for:
- Google AI Ultra users
- Workspace business customers with AI Ultra Access
- Workspace users with AI Expanded Access
Google will expand availability to more users over time.