Google has announced two significant upgrades to NotebookLM, its powerful generative AI research assistant. These much-anticipated features are set to make NotebookLM even more versatile and user-friendly, addressing requests from long-time fans.
Expanded File Support Makes Research Easier
NotebookLM now supports a broader range of file uploads, making it easier than ever to integrate your own content into the platform. Users can add:
- Spreadsheets saved as Google Sheets
- PDFs stored on Google Drive
- Microsoft Word documents (.docx)
- URLs to Google Drive files—just copy and paste, even multiple links separated by commas
This flexibility means researchers can quickly pull in large batches of files from various sources, simplifying the process of data gathering and preparation. The new URL support also mirrors the ability to link to websites or YouTube videos, streamlining research workflows.
Deep Research Mode: Smarter, More Comprehensive Insights
Perhaps even more exciting, NotebookLM is introducing a Deep Research mode, similar to the capabilities found in Gemini, AI Mode, and Google Finance. When activated, Deep Research automatically generates a research plan, browses hundreds of reliable websites, and creates an “organized, insightful, source-grounded report,” according to Google’s official blog.
What sets NotebookLM’s Deep Research apart is its interactivity. Users can:
- Add the AI-generated report and all cited sources directly to a notebook
- Continue incorporating new sources while Deep Research works in the background
- Assemble a comprehensive, evolving knowledge base on any topic—all within a single workspace
How to Use Deep Research in NotebookLM
Getting started is straightforward:
- Open NotebookLM and begin a search.
- In the source panel, select “Web” as your information source.
- Choose between “Fast Research” for rapid results or “Deep Research” for a more thorough analysis using
high-quality sources. - The Deep Research process runs in the background, allowing you to keep working or continue building your
notebook.
Available Soon Alongside Recent Improvements
These new features will roll out to users within the next week. They build on a series of recent enhancements, including support for Nano Banana in Video Overviews and a major expansion of the chat window’s memory—from 160,000 to a remarkable 1 million tokens, enabling conversations six times longer and delivering more insightful responses.
Google’s ongoing updates continue to make NotebookLM an indispensable tool for anyone seeking to organize research, analyze data, or simply stay on top of fast-moving topics.
