Google has renamed NotebookLM to Gemini Notebook, aligning its AI-powered research and note-taking tool with the broader Gemini brand while adding significant new capabilities including native code writing and execution.
Originally launched as Project Tailwind in 2023 and described by many reviewers as possibly the best AI product Google has produced, Gemini Notebook is now used by more than 30 million people and 600,000 organizations. It remains a standalone tool despite growing integration with Google’s product ecosystem.
The most consequential update is a new secure cloud computer allocated to each notebook, enabling native code writing and execution directly within the tool. Previously, NotebookLM could analyze uploaded documents and answer questions but could not run code. The addition transforms it into a more powerful data analysis platform, particularly for researchers and students working with quantitative data.
Users can now export their work in additional formats, including .json and Microsoft PowerPoint (.pptx) files, expanding beyond the original text-based note exports.
What sets Gemini Notebook apart from other AI tools is its source-anchored design: it only analyzes the documents, web pages, PDFs, and audio files the user uploads, and will not search the internet for answers if the sources do not contain one. Upload a mathematics document and ask about dolphin biology, and it replies that based on the sources provided, it does not have the answer, a deliberate constraint that makes it useful for verified research.
The renaming and new features are available starting July 16 for Google AI Ultra subscribers and Workspace business customers with AI Ultra Access or AI Expanded Access. AI Pro users on the web will gain access in the coming weeks.
Notebooks now sync directly with Google Drive and can be created directly from the Gemini App. Integration with AI Mode in Google Search is planned for a future release.
Sources: CNET