Google · 2026-04-08 · notable
Notebooks in Gemini (NotebookLM sync)
Google adds a Notebooks workspace to the Gemini app that syncs with NotebookLM — chats, files, custom instructions and research collections live in one project container across both apps.
The Gemini app gets project notebooks that are the same objects as NotebookLM notebooks — move a chat in, add PDFs, and keep going from either app.
What is it?
Notebooks is a new surface inside the Gemini app that turns a chat into a persistent project space. Each notebook can hold past chats, uploaded files, custom instructions for Gemini, and the research collection NotebookLM builds on top of those sources. The announcement went out on April 8 and is rolling out first to Google AI Ultra, Pro and Plus subscribers on the web.
How does it work?
A notebook is a single object that lives in both the Gemini app and NotebookLM and syncs bidirectionally. You can start a chat, promote it into a notebook, attach documents, and then open the same notebook in NotebookLM to get Video Overviews, Infographics and source-grounded briefs on the same material. Custom instructions travel with the notebook so Gemini keeps context across sessions instead of rediscovering it each time.
Why does it matter?
Until now Gemini and NotebookLM were two separate tools — one for conversation, one for sourced research. Binding them through a shared project object means users stop juggling tabs and copy-paste, and Google stops leaking the 'context memory' value to third-party wrappers. For researchers and anyone running long, source-heavy projects on Gemini, this is the first real workspace.
Who is it for?
Researchers, students, analysts, anyone already paying for Gemini Pro or NotebookLM.
Try it
gemini.google.com (AI Ultra / Pro / Plus, web first)