Enhancing Productivity with NotebookLM and Complementary Tools
I’ve been using Google’s AI-powered research assistant, NotebookLM, long before most people even knew it existed. I tried it out when Google launched it as an experimental project under the code name Project Tailwind. Even though it didn’t offer the Audio Overviews feature that has made it popular now, it still felt like a powerful tool with immense potential from the start.
As someone who is terrified of change and tends to cling to what I like, once NotebookLM became part of my workflow, I wasn’t about to let it go. Recently, I realized that while NotebookLM is an excellent tool on its own, pairing it with the right tools takes it to a whole new level. Here are three productivity tools I’ve been using alongside NotebookLM to boost my workflow.
Perplexity: Let It Do the Digging
An AI tool I’ve been using a lot lately is Perplexity, which can search the internet in real time and gather information from authoritative sources. While both NotebookLM and Perplexity involve research, their purposes differ significantly. NotebookLM is designed to enhance how you work with sources you upload, making it ideal for interacting with and organizing information you already have.
Perplexity, on the other hand, is great for finding external sources, especially more recent findings. For instance, if I have a notebook for a world history class and want to find updated perspectives on a historical event, I use Perplexity to search for recent studies or news articles. The Sources tab provides links I can add to my notebook. If there are many sources, I use a Google Chrome extension to automate the process.
Once the sources are added to a NotebookLM notebook, I treat them like any other curated content. To quickly get up to speed, I ask NotebookLM to summarize the source. I can also create Audio Overviews, Mind Maps, Briefing Docs, and Study Guides. Since NotebookLM is source-grounded, it references existing material without fabricating answers, ensuring accuracy.
Gemini: Deep Research at Its Best
Pairing Gemini with NotebookLM might seem unusual since NotebookLM is powered by Gemini. However, Gemini’s Deep Research feature offers a unique approach to researching topics. Instead of providing quick answers, it formulates a plan and conducts extensive research across hundreds of websites, including community forums and YouTube videos.
The resulting reports are thorough and well-rounded. When I don’t want to read through the entire report, I convert it into a Google Docs document and add it to a NotebookLM notebook. I then listen to an Audio Overview. While Gemini allows converting Deep Research reports into Audio Overviews directly, I often use NotebookLM for more in-depth summaries, especially with the ability to control the length of the audio summary.
Quizlet: No More Blank Stares at Definitions
Despite NotebookLM’s features that have transformed my study habits, one challenge remains: my short-term memory. I struggle to commit information to memory and typically forget anything I’ve memorized seconds later. I rely on flashcards for memory-heavy courses, and Quizlet is my go-to website.
I’ve used Quizlet since grade school, creating flashcards manually. Recently, I’ve paired it with NotebookLM to make the process easier. For existing flashcards, I copy them into a NotebookLM notebook to better understand the material and ask the AI questions about the terms. When learning something new, I let NotebookLM generate quiz-style questions and answers based on my study materials. For example, I might prompt it to generate 50 flashcard-style questions on OOP concepts.
Thanks to NotebookLM’s source-grounded nature, the generated questions are tied directly to my materials, ensuring accuracy. Once I have a solid set of Q&As, I copy them into Quizlet and use them like any other flashcard set. This method saves time and makes the study process less overwhelming.
Expanding Your Toolkit
Of course, the tools mentioned above aren’t the only ones you can pair with NotebookLM. Some users combine it with Obsidian, while others might integrate it with ChatGPT or Meta AI. Ultimately, it comes down to personal preference and finding a combination that works best for your workflow. By leveraging these tools together, you can unlock new levels of productivity and efficiency.