Everyone is using AI to do work for them. They’re calling it the “decade of agents”!
But if that’s all you’re using AI to do, then you’re cheating yourself. AI is an incredible tool for learning. I’m optimistic for a future where every student can learn with an infinitely patient and infinitely knowledgeable expert at their fingertips.
In the meantime, I live in a present where AI tools like Gemini Notebook are turbocharging learning.
I’m wrapping up a Master’s degree in Computer Science and Gemini Notebook has been an incredible helping hand. Learning and memorizing things with the help of AI is incredible.
Read on, and I’ll show you how to learn with Gemini Notebook.
What happened to NotebookLM?
NotebookLM is Gemini Notebook’s predecessor. It was a very similar product, but the name was sunset as the app got more features and tighter integration with Gemini.
Gemini Notebook is the fully-mature version of NotebookLM. Google just renamed the product in Summer of 2026.
What is Gemini Notebook?
Gemini Notebook is a tool for learning. This is in sharp contrast to most other AI tools, which are tools for doing.
With Gemini Notebook, you can select or upload your own sources, and the app will point AI at your own sources to generate helpful learning tools.
You can get briefing docs, study guides, quizzes, flashcards, and even AI-generated podcasts. These are cool enough on their own, but the best part is that all of the content is grounded in your sources.
That means less hallucination, but also more personalization.
Adding a source to your Gemini Notebook
When you create a new notebook, you’ll be prompted to give it a source. You can have lots of sources, but you need to have at least once source.
You can search the web or use Gemini to synthesize a source (including with deep research), or use a source you know. You can upload files, attach links, select from a Google Drive, or even paste text.
The last one is the least structured, but pasting text is my most used way to get sources into Gemini Notebook. I’m a big user of Obsidian, so I just paste in the markdown notes I take as my primary source.
Depending on the size of your source, Gemini will take a bit to ingest the content. Then, you’ll see some more options.
If you don’t like the generated name for your source, you can edit it.
This post is sponsored by Cosmos, the agent orchestration platform for AI-native engineering teams.
Cosmos is a shared system where agents work across triage, spec, implementation, review, testing, deployment, and feedback with the context, memory, and controls teams need. Humans steer, agents do the implementation, and the system gets better as the team uses it.
Generate a quiz with Gemini Notebook
My favorite feature in Gemini Notebook is the quizzes. I think quizzes are a great way to learn, mostly because of the principle of Active Recall.
You can generate a new quiz in the studio.
When you go to generate a quiz, you’ll get options for customization. Here, give your preference for length, difficulty of questions, and specific topics.
