Using NotebookLM: a beginner's guide

You have three reports, two PDFs and a long web page to get through, and you only have an hour. By using NotebookLM, you let an AI search mainly through your own documents and answer questions about them.

In this article, you’ll learn how NotebookLM works, what you can do with it and what to watch out for.

What is NotebookLM and what does it do?

NotebookLM is an AI tool from Google for research and notes. You upload your own sources and the tool mainly works with those sources, not with everything on the internet.

You create one notebook for each project. In it, you can put PDFs, Google Docs, websites or videos. After that, you ask questions, ask for a summary or let the tool create overviews. According to an explanation by id.nl, you can also use it to make reports, quizzes, mind maps and podcasts.

The difference from a normal chatbot is the focus. A chatbot like ChatGPT draws on broad knowledge. NotebookLM sticks to your stack of documents. That reduces the chance of made-up answers, but it does not remove that chance entirely.

How do you get started with NotebookLM?

You start with a Google account, a new notebook and a few sources. Within a few minutes, you can ask your first question.

1. Go to NotebookLM and sign in with your Google account.
2. Create a new notebook and give it a clear name, such as Quotes 2026.
3. Add sources. Think of PDFs, text, a link to a website or a Google Doc.
4. Ask a question in the chat, for example: what are the three most important agreements in these documents?
5. Click the references next to the answer and check whether the source really says that.

Choose your sources carefully. A notebook with ten good documents works better than a notebook with one hundred random files. If you have a Dutch text, you can simply upload it and ask questions in Dutch.

Give your notebook a clear focus too. A notebook about one client or one subject gives sharper answers than a pile of loose files about everything. Remove outdated versions of a document, otherwise the tool may quote from the wrong version.

Which functions do you have, and how do you ask good questions?

The main function is the chat with your sources. You can also have overviews made, such as summaries, study guides, quizzes and mind maps. The exact extra options you see change regularly, so check the tool to see what is available now.

Good questions are specific. Do not ask: summarise this. Better ask: summarise the risks from these three reports in five points, for a manager who has little time.

• Say who the reader is: an explanation for a beginner is different from one for a specialist.
• Ask for sources: have each point say where it appears.
• Follow up: ask a follow-up question if an answer is too vague.
• Check the figures: always check amounts, dates and names in the original document.

What can you use NotebookLM for at work?

NotebookLM is especially useful when you have a lot to read and little time. You use it for summarising, comparing and preparing.

• Preparing meetings: upload the previous minutes and ask which actions are still open.
• Comparing quotes or contracts: ask for a table showing differences in delivery time and terms.
• Studying or training: let the tool make practice questions about your course material.
• Research for a client: gather reports and let the tool find the common thread.
• Onboarding: put manuals in a notebook so new colleagues can ask questions.

One tip many beginners miss: ask for the counterarguments. For example, type: where do these sources disagree? That way, you will immediately see where you need to look further yourself.

Audio Overview is also a well-known function. The tool then creates a conversation between two voices about your sources, as Bright wrote when it launched. At the start, those voices were in English, even though you could upload Dutch sources. Language options have changed since then, so check what is possible now in the tool.

What are the risks and limitations of NotebookLM?

NotebookLM still makes mistakes, and you upload your documents to a tech company’s service. Both points need attention.

First, the mistakes. The tool can summarise a text badly or miss an important nuance. The references help, but you remain responsible for the result. A summary of a contract is not legal advice.

Then privacy. For private accounts, it is often said that Google does not use your uploads to train models unless you give explicit feedback. Read that for yourself in Google’s privacy information, because terms change. Do not upload documents with personal data about clients or colleagues if you are not sure that is allowed. That also applies under the GDPR. If in doubt, ask your privacy officer or IT department.

Situation	Wise thing to do
Public reports and articles	Fine to upload
Your own notes without sensitive information	Usually fine
Client data or staff files	First check permission or policy
Confidential business plans	Only through an approved work account

If your office uses Microsoft, another tool may be a better fit. For example, read how Copilot in SharePoint and OneDrive organises files.

Frequently asked questions

Is NotebookLM free?

There is a basic version you can try with a Google account. For current terms, limits and any paid options, check with Google itself.

Can I use NotebookLM in Dutch?

You can upload Dutch sources and ask questions in Dutch. For extra features such as Audio Overview, language choice may be more limited, so check that in the tool.

Does NotebookLM make things up?

The risk is lower than with a general chatbot, because the tool works with your sources. Still, it can make mistakes, so check the references.

What is the difference between NotebookLM and ChatGPT?

NotebookLM mainly works with the documents you upload. ChatGPT is a general assistant that can answer more broadly but stays less closely tied to your sources.

Want to go further? Read how to create your own AI assistant without programming, or view all articles in AI tools. Start small with one project and three sources.