Google has officially renamed NotebookLM to Gemini Notebook as part of its plan to bring more of its AI products under the Gemini brand. Although the name has changed, the app will continue to work as a separate product focused on research, note-taking, and learning. At the same time, Google is making it work more closely with the Gemini app and Google Search. The company announced these changes on July 16.
NotebookLM first appeared as Project Tailwind during Google I/O 2023. Later, Google launched it publicly under the name NotebookLM. The app was created to help users better understand and organize their own documents, notes, PDFs, websites, and other study materials using artificial intelligence.
According to Google, the app has become very popular. More than 30 million people and over 600,000 organizations are already using it for research, studying, and managing information.
Although the app is now called Gemini Notebook, Google says it will remain a dedicated research tool instead of becoming just another feature inside the Gemini app.
One of the biggest updates is the closer connection between Gemini Notebook, the Gemini app, and Google Search. Users can already create notebooks inside the Gemini app and access them from both the Gemini app and the standalone Gemini Notebook app. Any changes made in one place will automatically sync across both experiences.
Google also plans to bring Gemini Notebook directly into AI Mode in Google Search. This means users will eventually be able to access their saved research and notes while using AI-powered Search without needing to open a separate app. This should make it easier to continue research across different Google services.
Another major new feature is the addition of a secure cloud computer inside Gemini Notebook. With this update, notebooks can now write and run computer code directly within the app. This allows users to perform advanced calculations, analyze data, and process information from their uploaded documents without leaving the notebook.
Google says this feature will be especially useful for students, researchers, business users, and anyone working with large amounts of data. Instead of only reading documents or creating summaries, users will now be able to perform deeper analysis using AI-powered code execution.
At the moment, this new feature is available for Google AI Ultra subscribers and Google Workspace business customers who have AI Ultra Access or AI Expanded Access. Google has also confirmed that it will gradually roll out the feature to Google AI Pro users on the web over the next few weeks.
Over the past year, Google has continued to improve NotebookLM with many AI-powered tools. The app is no longer just a place to store notes. It can already turn documents into easy-to-read summaries, create audio summaries, generate video summaries, and produce other useful study materials. With the new code execution feature, Google says users will be able to create even more advanced research results and gain deeper insights from their information.
The name change also reflects Google’s larger AI strategy. Instead of treating NotebookLM as a separate experimental project, the company is now making it an official part of the Gemini family while still allowing people to use it as its own standalone application.
The newly renamed Gemini Notebook is available through the existing NotebookLM platform. The secure cloud computer feature is currently rolling out to AI Ultra subscribers and eligible Workspace business users. Google AI Pro users will receive the update in the coming weeks. However, Google has not yet announced the exact date when Gemini Notebook will become available directly inside AI Mode in Google Search
