機械翻訳 / Machine-translated
@aifriends
AI Friends（https://aifriends.jp）のクロスポスト公式アカウント。AIツールの紹介・使い方・できることを、中学生でもわかるやさしい日本語で届けます。
NotebookLM is a free AI research tool developed by Google.
It reads the materials you upload (such as PDFs and documents) and uses AI to summarize the content and answer your questions.
Think of it as a smart assistant that reads your materials on your behalf and tells you the important points.
The biggest feature of NotebookLM is that it answers questions using only your own uploaded materials.
AI tools like ChatGPT search for answers from information across the entire internet, but NotebookLM refers only to the materials you have uploaded.
This means you can safely handle sensitive company documents, university reports, and other information you don't want leaked externally.
NotebookLM uses Google's latest AI model, Gemini 3.1 Pro.
As of April 2026, it supports more than 50 languages including Japanese, and you can start using it completely free of charge.
A paid version is also available, but the free version offers more than enough features.
Pricing will be explained in detail later.
NotebookLM has many useful features that help streamline studying and work. Here are five key features, including the latest additions added in 2026.
When you upload a PDF or document file, the AI automatically reads its contents.
For example, if you ask "What are the key points of this document?", it will summarize them in a bulleted list within seconds.
This is handy when you don't have time to read through a long paper or report.
You can also ask "Tell me more about ○○" and it will extract and explain just that section.
Audio Overview is the most popular feature in NotebookLM.
It automatically generates audio in which two AI hosts discuss and explain the content of your uploaded materials in a conversational format.
It feels like listening to a radio show or podcast, letting you learn the material's content by ear.
It's perfect for busy people, as you can study during your commute or while doing household chores.
With the 2026 update, it now supports more than 50 languages, including Japanese.
You can also choose from four formats: Deep Dive for in-depth explanation, Brief for a short summary, Critique for a critical perspective, and Debate for a discussion presenting both sides of an argument.
With the free version, you can create up to three audio overviews per day.
Studio is a feature that automatically creates slides (presentation materials) based on your documents.
For example, if you upload a paper and ask "Turn this into presentation slides," the AI will generate slides with a title, headings, and key points.
You can also give instructions for individual slides, such as "Rewrite this in simpler language."
This can significantly reduce the time you spend preparing for presentations.
NotebookLM automatically creates flashcards (study cards) and quizzes for memorization from your document content.
For example, uploading a history textbook will automatically generate quizzes on important dates and names.
The March 2026 update added the ability to resume from where you left off, a feature to record correct and incorrect answers, and a shuffle function.
It's ideal for studying for exams.
As a new feature added in April 2026, you can now launch NotebookLM directly from Google Classroom (an online learning tool used in schools).
Materials and assignments distributed by teachers can be imported into NotebookLM with a single click.
Students can instantly summarize class materials or create review quizzes, enabling more efficient studying.
NotebookLM can be easily started by beginners in just three steps. Here is an explanation of the basic usage.
First, go to the NotebookLM official website at https://notebooklm.google.com.
Log in with your Google account.
If you don't have a Google account, you can create one for free.
Once logged in, you will see a list of your notebooks (the places where you organize your materials).
Click the "Create new notebook" button and give it a title.
Choose a clear, descriptive name such as "Japanese History Report" or "Company Proposal."
Next, add your materials.
File formats you can upload include PDF, Word, text, Google Docs, Google Slides, Google Sheets, Markdown, ePub, audio files, images, and webpage URLs.
With the free version, you can add up to 50 materials per notebook.
Once you've uploaded your materials, type your question into the input field at the bottom of the screen.
For example, you can ask things like "Summarize this document," "What is the definition of ○○?", or "List five important points" — just as you would in a normal conversation.
Press Enter and the AI will respond within seconds.
If you want to create an audio summary, click the "Generate audio overview" button in the upper right of the screen, and a podcast-style audio file will be ready in two to three minutes.
NotebookLM has both convenient aspects and points to be aware of. Before you start using it, let's go over the pros and cons.
NotebookLM is ideal for people who want to efficiently understand large amounts of material. Specifically, it is recommended for the following people:
On the other hand, NotebookLM is not suited for people who want to ask general questions without any materials, people who want to write novels or poetry, or people who want to generate images or videos.
For those purposes, ChatGPT, Gemini, or Midjourney would be more appropriate.
This is because NotebookLM is a tool specialized in "understanding your own materials."
NotebookLM is a free AI research tool developed by Google that can dramatically improve your efficiency in studying and work. Here is a summary of this article's key points, including the latest features as of April 2026.
NotebookLM is an extremely powerful tool, especially for students with a heavy study load, businesspeople who need to read large volumes of materials, and people who want to learn efficiently through audio.
Since the free version offers plenty of basic functionality, why not visit the official website at https://notebooklm.google.com and try uploading some of your materials?
AI is sure to make your studying and work much easier.
This article is a cross-post from AI Friends.
