AI takes studying to the next level: Google's NotebookLM turns your notes into an annotated presentation

Google has officially introduced the long-awaited Video Overviews feature in NotebookLM, which functions as a personalized AI research assistant. This new feature, first mentioned by the company during this year’s I/O conference, can transform complex information from your documents into clear visual presentations with spoken narration. For users, this represents an entirely new way to understand complex concepts and absorb information more effectively. And who knows, perhaps this novelty will help you with your work or studies.

How do Video Overviews work?

The Video Overviews feature is, de facto, a visual alternative to the previously launched Audio Overviews. While the latter allows you to listen to a summary overview of your documents, the new video variant adds an important visual dimension. An AI host automatically creates a presentation with engaging slides, complementing them with images, diagrams, quotes, and numerical data directly from your uploaded documents. The result is a dynamic presentation that helps you better understand the studied materials.

According to Google, this feature is exceptionally effective for explaining data, demonstrating processes, and especially for making abstract concepts accessible. For example, if you have uploaded a scientific article full of complex diagrams, Video Overviews can help you interpret them clearly and place them within the context of the entire document.

Customization to Your Needs

Just like with Audio Overviews, you can fully customize this new feature according to your own requirements. Simply specify the topics you want to focus on, state your learning objectives, or describe your target audience. You can ask general questions like “I don’t know anything about this topic, help me understand the diagrams in the document” or go into detail with requests like “I am already an expert in X and my team is working on Y, focus on Z”.

AI takes studying to the next level: Google's NotebookLM turns your notes into an annotated presentation Adam Kurfürst News Adam Kurfürst News

Google states that Video Overviews are now available to all users in English. Support for other languages should come in the near future, although an exact date has not yet been announced. The first format currently available is in the form of annotated slides, but developers promise that other formats will gradually be added.

When are Video Overviews most useful?

This new feature is particularly useful in situations where you need visual support to understand complex concepts. Unlike Audio Overviews, which can be played in the background while doing other activities, the video version requires your full attention, but the reward is a deeper understanding of the studied material. It will perfectly serve students preparing for exams, researchers analyzing academic articles, or professionals who need to quickly grasp complex data.

The feature is also excellent for sharing knowledge within a team – you can create a clear video explaining complex documentation, which will facilitate orientation for new members. Or, if you manage a public notebook, you can create outputs tailored to different levels of knowledge, from beginners to experts.

Redesigned Studio with New Possibilities

In addition to Video Overviews, Google also introduced a redesigned Studio panel, which brings several significant improvements. The biggest new feature is the ability to create and save multiple outputs of the same type within a single notebook. While previously you could only have one Audio Overview, one mind map, or one study guide per notebook, you can now create any number of these materials.

The new Studio offers four different tiles at the top of the panel for creating Audio Overviews, Video Overviews, mind maps, and reports. All created outputs are then clearly displayed in a list below these tiles. Studio now also supports multitasking – for example, you can listen to an audio summary while browsing a mind map or study guide. According to Google, the redesigned Studio will be available to all users over the next few weeks.

How would you use the new Video Overviews feature in your education or work?

Source: Google