Google’s NotebookLM Introduces ‘Deep Research’ Tool and Expands File Type Support
Google has unveiled significant enhancements to NotebookLM, its AI-driven note-taking and research assistant, aimed at streamlining complex research tasks and broadening the range of supported file types.
Introduction of ‘Deep Research’ Tool
The newly introduced Deep Research feature is designed to automate and simplify intricate online research processes. Functioning as a virtual research assistant, Deep Research can synthesize comprehensive reports and recommend pertinent articles, papers, or websites.
Users can pose a question, and Deep Research will formulate a research plan, autonomously navigate relevant websites, and, within minutes, deliver a source-based report ready for integration into their notebooks. This functionality allows users to continue adding other sources while Deep Research operates in the background, facilitating the creation of an organized and in-depth knowledge base without disrupting workflow.
To access Deep Research, users initiate a search in the source panel, select Web as the source, and choose their preferred research style. Deep Research offers a full briefing and in-depth analysis, while Fast Research provides a quicker search option.
Expanded File Type Support
In addition to the Deep Research tool, NotebookLM now supports a wider array of file types, enhancing its versatility. Users can upload Google Sheets, Drive files via URLs, PDFs from Google Drive, and Microsoft Word documents. This expansion enables functionalities such as generating summaries from spreadsheets and efficiently copying and pasting multiple Drive files as URLs.
These updates are expected to be available to all users within a week.
Continuous Evolution of NotebookLM
Since its initial launch in late 2023, Google has consistently enhanced NotebookLM’s capabilities. Earlier this year, the platform introduced Video Overviews, allowing users to transform dense multimedia content—such as raw notes, PDFs, and images—into digestible visual presentations. This feature builds upon the previously introduced Audio Overviews, which generates AI-driven podcasts based on user-provided documents like course readings or legal briefs.
In May, Google expanded NotebookLM’s accessibility by releasing dedicated apps for Android and iOS platforms, extending the service beyond desktop usage.
Conclusion
The introduction of the Deep Research tool and expanded file type support underscores Google’s commitment to enhancing NotebookLM as a comprehensive AI-powered research assistant. These updates aim to provide users with more efficient and versatile tools for managing and synthesizing information, thereby streamlining the research process.
