Google Gemini App Rolling Out 'Notebooks' Feature with NotebookLM Integration

Google is expanding NotebookLM integration in the Gemini app by introducing "notebooks"—dedicated spaces for users to organize chats and files into personal knowledge bases that sync across Google products.

What's New

A new "Notebooks" section now appears in the Gemini side panel between "My stuff" and "Gems." All chats feature an "Add to notebook" option in the overflow menu, allowing users to assign conversations to specific notebooks.

Once a notebook is created, users can organize sources (files, Google Drive documents, websites, or copied text) and ask Gemini questions within that context. The app displays sources above the prompt box with options to add or delete them. Gemini then uses these sources alongside its tools and web search to generate contextually relevant responses.

Key features include:

• Notebook memory: Users can enable/disable "Use notebook memory" via the overflow menu
• Custom instructions: Add instructions to define how Gemini responds and what tone to use
• Bidirectional sync: Chats from Gemini appear as sources in NotebookLM; notebooks created in Gemini appear in NotebookLM
• Quick access: Shortcut to open NotebookLM from the top-right corner
• Conversation history: Previous chats using that notebook appear below the prompt box

Rollout Timeline

Notebooks are rolling out first to Google AI Plus, Pro, and Ultra subscribers on the web. Google plans to expand availability to mobile devices, more European countries, and free users in the coming weeks.

Use Cases

Google highlighted example workflows, such as students adding class notes to a notebook, using NotebookLM to create a Cinematic Video Overview, then returning to Gemini the next day to draft an essay outline from the same material.

What This Means

This update deepens the integration between Gemini and NotebookLM, positioning Google's AI products as a unified platform for document-based research and question-answering workflows. By syncing notebooks across services, Google is attempting to reduce friction for users who need to reference custom sources without rebuilding context across different tools. The staged rollout prioritizing paid tiers follows Google's established pattern of premium feature launches before wider availability.