Google announced an update to its AI research tool, NotebookLM, switching the default model to Gemini 3.5 and adding the new capability to source information from chat content. As a result, the way users interact with the product has changed—users no longer need to rely entirely on pre-uploaded materials to build their knowledge base.
Default Model Upgrade
After this update, NotebookLM now uses Gemini 3.5 as the default model. Google has also added new software capabilities to help users generate various types of output during their research, further enhancing its organization and productivity features beyond Q&A.
Support creating a knowledge base from chat
Previously, NotebookLM required users to prepare materials first, then extract information and draw conclusions from them. Now, users can provide more detailed instructions directly in conversation, allowing the system to generate content, which can then be refined iteratively and gradually transformed into a usable knowledge base.
Export format further expanded
The new version supports exporting multiple file types, including charts and data visualization files, PDF, .docx, Markdown, text files, and structured data formats such as .csv and .json.
- Chart formats include .png and .svg
- Document formats cover PDF and Word files.
- Also supports export to Excel and PowerPoint
Google also noted that NotebookLM can generate image content powered by Nano-banana, making it easy for users to convert their research findings directly into presentation materials or visualizations.
Show the generation process in the chat
Last year, Google introduced a "Deep Research" mode for NotebookLM to enable more structured online research. With this update, the system will display detailed steps in the chat interface showing how responses are generated, allowing users to verify the basis of the output.
Google states that these features are now available to Google AI Ultra users, as well as Workspace enterprise customers with AI Ultra Access and AI Expanded Access enabled, and will be extended to additional users in the future.