NotebookLM Update: Deep Research Tool & Expanded File Support

Google Enhances NotebookLM with New Research and File Support

Google is implementing updates to NotebookLM, its AI-powered note-taking and research assistant. These enhancements include a novel tool designed to streamline complex research processes, alongside expanded compatibility with various file formats.

Introducing “Deep Research”

Rolling out now is “Deep Research,” a feature intended to automate and simplify intricate online investigations. Google positions this tool as a virtual research assistant, capable of compiling comprehensive reports or suggesting pertinent articles, academic papers, and websites.

Deep Research functions by taking a user’s inquiry, formulating a research strategy, and then autonomously browsing the web. The resulting, source-verified report is then presented to the user and can be directly integrated into their notebook. Importantly, this process operates in the background, allowing for continued source addition.

The core objective of Deep Research is to facilitate the creation of a well-structured and thorough knowledge base on a given subject, all without disrupting the user’s existing workflow.

Utilizing Deep Research Options

Access to Deep Research is initiated through a search within the source panel, with “Web” selected as the source. Users can then choose their preferred research approach.

For comprehensive briefings and detailed analyses, the “Deep Research” option is available. Alternatively, “Fast Research” provides a quicker search experience when immediate results are needed.

Expanded File Type Compatibility

Beyond the new research tool, NotebookLM now supports a wider range of file types. Users can now upload Google Sheets, files from Google Drive via URLs, PDFs sourced from Google Drive, and Microsoft Word Documents.

This expanded support enables functionalities such as generating summaries from spreadsheets and efficiently importing multiple Drive files as URLs.

Google anticipates that these updates will become available to all users within the next week.

Continued Development of NotebookLM

Since its initial release in late 2023, Google has consistently expanded NotebookLM’s capabilities. Earlier this year, Video Overviews were introduced, allowing users to transform complex multimedia content—including notes, PDFs, and images—into easily digestible visual presentations.

This addition complements the existing Audio Overviews feature, which generates an AI-powered podcast based on documents provided to NotebookLM, such as course materials or legal documents.

Furthermore, in May, Google launched NotebookLM applications for both Android and iOS, extending the service’s accessibility beyond desktop platforms.