- Deep Research integrates with NotebookLM to create research plans and generate reports in the background, available in more than 180 countries, including Spain.
- Google Drive incorporates audio summaries based on NotebookLM technology: for now only in English, from the web and for paid subscriptions.
- NotebookLM's mobile apps add flashcards and quizzes, with customization and chat improvements (50% more quality, 4x context, 6x memory).
- NotebookLM expands compatibility: Google Sheets, Drive URLs, images, PDFs and .docx documents, plus time-based font control.
Google is giving another push to its AI-powered smart notebook: NotebookLM adds in-depth research, improved study tools, and new integrationsThe changes affect both the web version and the mobile apps, as well as the relationship with Google Drive, with the aim of streamlining tasks such as reading, analyzing, and preparing materials.
For those who work or study in Spain and Europe, the movement has deep roots: Deep Research comes to NotebookLMAudio summaries are landing on Drive (with language limitations) and mobile apps are gaining strength with features designed to review and assess knowledge on the go.
Deep Research, now inside NotebookLM
The new integration makes Deep Research a virtual researcher inside your notebookSimply ask one question: AI designs a work plan, It searches the web for relevant information, compares and refines resultsand it can also rely on the sources that you have uploaded to NotebookLM itself.
The system synthesizes a report with quotes and key data Sources from documents, articles, or linked sites are added to the notebook for consultation and reuse as needed. it happens in the backgroundso you can continue with other tasks while the investigation progresses.
To use it, enter In the Sources sidebar, choose Web as the source and select the option Deep Research in the menu Alongside the search function, Quick Research mode is also available if you just need an initial overview.
Regarding availability, Google indicates that Deep Research works on more than 180 countries (including Spain)Free Gemini accounts allow you to use AI a few times a month (with a maximum of approximately five reports), while paid plans like AI Pro increase these limits. The Ultra version is not essential except for very demanding workflows.
As an added bonus, the results can be transformed from NotebookLM into audio and video summaries with transcription and Spanish support, facilitating the review of complex materials in more digestible formats.
Google Drive adopts audio summaries powered by NotebookLM
Drive introduces a dedicated button in PDF preview for Generate podcast-style audio summaries, taking advantage of the same foundation that NotebookLM uses in its Audio Overviews. It is a function geared towards long documents: reports, contracts or long transcripts.
The process is simple: when activated, the AI analyzes the entire PDF and produces a file of between 2 and 10 minutes, which is saved in your Drive alongside the original document. It doesn't need to be regenerated each time and can be reproduced whenever you want.
There are cutbacks compared to NotebookLM: For now, it is not possible to interact with the voices during playback., There is no built-in automatic transcription or listening point synchronization between devices. As well It is limited to the web version of Drive.
Important for users in Spain: PDF processing in Drive is available English only in this first phaseAdditionally, it requires a subscription: it works for certain Google Workspace plans (such as Enterprise or Education) and for paid Gemini accounts (AI Pro/Ultra).
The rollout has been progressive since mid-November and, although the generation is done on the web, The created audio file can be played from the mobile device. Because it's stored on your drive, it's easy to listen to it wherever you are.
Flashcards and quizzes arrive on mobile apps
Based on the sources in the notebook (PDFs, links, videos with transcripts…), the AI generates practice materials that you can customize by number and difficulty (less/standard/more; easy/medium/difficult) and even use a prompt to set the focus.
The cards can be browsed in full screen and Reveal the answer with a touchwhile questionnaires use multiple choice with optional clues and explanation after each answer, correct or incorrect.
There's also more control over the context: now you can temporarily activate or deactivate sources so that the chat and the Studio are based only on the materials that interest you at that moment.
The chat receives a significant increase: 50% more quality In responses, the context window is 4x larger and conversation memory is 6x longer. Furthermore, conversations are preserved between sessions, which is especially useful on mobile.
More formats and content control in NotebookLM
The latest update expands font compatibility: Google Sheets, Google Drive URLs, images, PDFs, and .docx documents They can now be added to the notebook. Some features, such as using images as a source, will be rolled out gradually.
This greater openness to formats, along with the possibility of Select or exclude sources on the flyIt helps create summaries, guides, concept maps, or audio files that are truly tailored to the material that matters in each project.
How to get started: quick steps and availability
If you want to try the depth investigation, Open your notebook, go to Sources, choose Web and activate Deep Research from the menu next to the search engine. For the audio files on Drive, Open a PDF on the Drive website and click the new audio summary button..
Consider the regional and planning fit: NotebookLM and Deep Research are present in more than 180 countries, including Spainwith more generous limits on paid accounts. Audio summaries on Drive, however, remain restricted to English and compatible subscriptions.
With this round of changes, Google is turning NotebookLM into a The most comprehensive hub for studying, preparing reports, and reviewing documentation: research in the background, create practice materials on your mobile device, and summarize PDFs into audio from Drive, with a clear focus on speeding up tasks without losing control of sources.
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