Learning doesn’t need to be stressful – it can be fun with the right tools. I remember those days in uni – drowning in notes, juggling readings and rushing to meet deadlines. If “NotebookLM” by Google had been around back then, it would’ve saved me so much hassle…
This AI “knowledge powerhouse” does more than just summarize your notes. It can help create knowledge bases, simplify research and turn anything into digestible podcasts – at no cost. It feels like the pill from the (cool) movie “Limitless”. What sets NotebookLM apart from other AI tools like ChatGPT etc. (which can also handle some of these use cases) is that it analyzes millions (not thousands) of words (“tokens”) at once. I’ll cover some more differences below.
Please note outputs of AI may not always be reliable, so use such prompting ideas only for inspiration. Without further ado, I’ll now share with you my 7 favorite NotebookLM use cases (incl. example prompts) which are easy and proved useful for me:
Table of Contents
Manage Your Knowledge Base with Ease
When you’re studying, you don’t always need every detail – you want the highlights: That’s where NotebookLM shines. Unlike other AI tools that focus on generating content (ChatGPT & Co.), NotebookLM acts like a personal assistant for storing and quickly retrieving information. Having such an available “knowledge base” is especially helpful for bigger projects or courses.
For example, you can ask, “Summarize my lecture notes on economic theories, highlighting their main ideas and differences.” In seconds, you’ll have a clear outline of the key points. It’s perfect for getting exam-ready or drafting essays without wasting time on unnecessary details. What topic would you need a knowledge base for?
Create Study Guides That Actually Work
Keeping notes organized isn’t always straightforward. I know I’ve been guilty of piling everything into a folder and hoping for the best… NotebookLM makes it easier by turning those scattered notes and (course) materials, syllabus etc. into a structured, comprehensive study plan.
You may ask, “Create a personalized study plan for my subject based on my [attached] syllabus and schedule: [I have X weeks left and Y hours per week]. Focus on areas: [enter particularly critical areas which need extra attention].” It breaks down what to study, when to study it and how to focus on tougher topics. It’ll help you allot more time to challenging topics and suggest the best times for deep focus versus lighter review. This way you keep your schedule on track and nothing slips through the cracks…
Simplify Complex or Conflicting Research
It’s hard to wrap our head around new topics, especially when there’s diverse research and “schools of thought”. I once wanted to analyze long-term AI trends in industry based on several PDFs: (public) reports from consultancies, academia etc. – some even in different languages. Instead of spending hours piecing it all together, I let NotebookLM do the heavy lifting.
I asked, “Compare the key arguments and views in these papers on AI trends and highlight how they agree or differ.” Moments later, I had a clear, concise overview of various AI scenarios. You can, for example, ask it to simplify it “explain like I’m 5[, 10, 15, …] years old” etc. It’s perfect for dense topics or when you’re preparing for debates, exams, presentations or reports etc.
Make Studying Interactive with Quizzes
Reading through notes on repeat (without really absorbing anything) doesn’t always work. Testing yourself (“active recall”) is one of the best ways to remember what you learn though. However, creating those flashcards takes a lot of time, but NotebookLM can make this much easier fortunately.
A friend of mine uses it to create test questions and audio summaries for their kids from online courses/educational videos. They watch the video, listen to an audio summary and then answer the questions. Works like a charm apparently…
You can say, “Generate [ten] multiple-choice questions from my (uploaded) notes. Focus on key concepts which are likely to come up in an exam, e.g. [enter example topics].” The quizzes are a quick way to spot what you know well and what needs more focus. It’s a (somewhat) fun and easy way to make learning more engaging and effective. What’s your preferred learning strategy?
Summarize Books and Big Reads Easily
NotebookLM makes endless books/documents or whole reading lists manageable. It condenses entire books or chapters (or transcripts) into summaries that give you the gist. It’s just right for tackling the essentials before diving deeper.
A former colleague of mine told me he uploaded annual reports, earnings call transcripts etc. from several major corporations into NotebookLM. It turned a stack of scattered documents into an organized resource for analyzing the fundamentals of the companies’ performance trends. It’s like from the movie “Limitless“…
You could do the same with a chapter from a business book. Ask, “Summarize the key ideas and suggest how they could apply in […]” Instead of slogging through every page, you’ll get the key takeaways in no time. What “document behemoth” could you use this for?
Turn Anything into Casual Podcasts
I don’t know much about “Medieval literature.” However, a friend asked me for feedback on his article. So, we turned it into a podcast. It explained in simple terms to me what he’s doing.
As another “experiment”, I let NotebookLM’s AI podcast generation feature turn this very article here into (edutaining?) audio for you, so you can enjoy my content in a new way. Please let me know how you liked it:
With NotebookLM, you can do this for just about anything – turn your study materials, articles or papers into audio. Whether you’re commuting, exercising or relaxing, this feature keeps you learning without being glued to a desk. Plus, for auditory learners, it makes studying feel natural and less like a chore. What learning style do you prefer?
Draft Personal and Professional Documents
NotebookLM isn’t just for studying – it’s also a great tool for “professional” tasks. Activities like writing or polishing resumes, cover letters, etc. tend to make us feel uncomfortable. Luckily, this tool makes it much easier.
You can upload, e.g., info from your LinkedIn, academic/professional records and a target job description. (At least to the degree you feel comfortable sharing that with the tool…) Then ask, “Draft a professional CV or cover letter emphasizing my fitting qualifications and skills […].” You’ll get a polished draft in seconds, ready to refine. It’s a great tool for anyone getting ready for the job market, uni, stipends etc.
Wrap-up: A Readily Available “PhD” in Your Pocket
This isn’t just another study tool – it’s a powerful, free knowledge “engine”. While not perfect, it’s strong for research and organizing notes, while other GenAI chatbots or tools like ChatGPT & Co. shine at generating content (essays, creative work, coding tasks etc.) Together, they make a powerful combination.
If you want to “up your game” with effective prompting more generally, check out my “prompting playbook”. It provides you some simple tips and tricks to always get the answers you need from your favorite AI chatbot.
Ready to give it a try? Pick one of these use cases and see how it fits into your routine. Know other creative ways (or prompts) of using NotebookLM? Please share them in the comments – I’d love to hear how these (or those covered above) work for you.
Cheers,
John
What do you think?