Google’s investment and research into AI are finally approaching critical mass as the firm continues to produce refined AI tools as well as experimental AI applications to tinker with machine learning protocols. More recently, Google has released NotebookLM—an AI-powered note-taking application that combines the power of language model artificial intelligence with a straightforward notes platform. The project was initially called “Tailwind.” However, it seems like Google has since rebranded the application to a more recognizable name. While AI note-taking applications are not all that novel, Google still seems interested in trying its hand at creating a tool that might be able to integrate across its extant platforms like Google Docs, Sheets, and more. Interestingly, this is the third time Google is launching a note-taking app, with Google Notebook and Google Keep being the present one’s predecessors.
NotebookLM is still fairly new and runs into certain challenges and errors from time to time, indicating its experimental nature before Google refines the application for broader release. As competitors like Otter.ai carve out a niche for themselves in the meetings and AI note-taking spaces, Google doesn’t want to be left behind in its expansion plans as it continues to remain in a stiff rivalry with other counterparts like OpenAI. While the user base is limited, NotebookLM has still received a considerable amount of attention from users and might become the rightful new-age AI note-taker application as the AI boom continues to enter numerous niches in the tech space.
What Does NotebookLM Entail: Exploring AI Note-Taking
NotebookLM relies on user-uploaded documents to answer questions and generate ideas.
Google’s NotebookLM is based on an underlying language model that allows the application to make sense of the notes users take and the information they upload. While the app does have generative capabilities, it remains limited to the extent of the information provided by the user. Hence, Google’s note-taking AI is a highly specific optimization of generative artificial intelligence to suit limited needs. Presently, users can upload documents or information exclusively from Google Docs. While this limitation dictates the scope of the AI note-taker app, it is believed that favorable performance and outcomes from the application might lead Google to extend the application to other platforms within Google’s ambit. As rival firms like OpenAI expand on AI down their own track with plugins and other features alongside a potential AI app store, Google seems to be more interested in creating functional AI applications for everyday use. NotebookLM is capable of going through the user’s content and providing prompt information based on instructions and queries.
The concept is unique in the fact that it functions primarily using locally uploaded information as its core database. It’s important to note that if users upload documents to NotebookLM with incorrect information, the underlying AI, too, will respond with the same data. Users can jot down lists of kitchen ingredients, and NotebookLM will be capable of providing recipe suggestions to users based on the components of the ingredient list. Being a web application, NotebookLM is connected to the internet; however, it cannot correct factual discrepancies present in user-uploaded content. Moreover, since the application is still experimental, the AI note-taking app might be prone to hallucination, making it important for users to verify the information it presents. If NotebookLM does make it out of its limited testing phases successfully, it might find a permanent place within Google’s existing suite of productivity applications to aid users with summarization and generation of ideas.
The Technical Details of Google’s AI Note-Taking App
Google NotebookLM is based on a language model that reads and analyzes user notes.
NotebookLM is a very basic application with only skeletal features and functions. It allows users to create new “projects” that are essentially Google Docs and can be up to 10,000 words long. Longer doc files often cause the application to fail. The application considers each project and the content within to be sources it can use to answer user questions, create suggestions, put together ideas, or organize files. Users might be able to create AI-generated content off their existing projects on the application by simply prompting the underlying language model. NotebookLM presently assists with summarization, answering pertinent questions (so long as the answers are present within user-uploaded documents), and brainstorming. Future enhancements of the underlying machine learning protocol are capable of making NotebookLM a starting point for a potent AI assistant in the future. As Google proceeds to create larger language models like Gemini and improves upon its existing chatbot Bard, prototypes like NotebookLM, too, might be enhanced using learnings from these ventures.
As trials in the US continue, Google intends to reach out to users to understand what has worked for the latter. While Google is not alone in creating an AI note-taker app, it intends to synthesize new methods to approach how people access information contained within their notes. As competition with rival flagship language models like GPT-4 increases, Google plans on creating a consistent stream of consumer-facing AI products to keep its customer base engaged with intuitive and useful tools. Being a part of the Google Labs initiative, NotebookLM remains in public testing within the US for free; however, there’s no information on whether the application will invoke a monthly subscription fee once it’s released to a larger user base.
AI and Note-Taking: Potential Outcomes
AI note-taking apps might have to wade through the convoluted waters of user privacy and safety.
The process of integrating AI with note-taking serves to simplify the collation of ideas and information through a single channel. Google’s NotebookLM makes this process efficient by quickly highlighting facts users request by presenting excerpts from their notes and also by ratifying its responses with citations. However, there remain potential AI safety and privacy concerns with the concept, as the application would involve users uploading their personal information and data onto a third-party application. While this already happens with several other note-taking apps, bringing AI into the mix adds a certain level of unpredictability since language models can be prone to bias. Google and other firms looking to create AI note-taking applications will have to carefully consider and craft security measures to ensure customer protection in the course of creating and operating applications like NotebookLM.
FAQs
1. How can I use Google NotebookLM?
Presently, Google NotebookLM is available only within the United States and can be accessed through the web using a browser. NotebookLM can be accessed through both computers and mobile devices.
2. Does NotebookLM use AI?
Yes, NotebookLM uses an underlying language model to collate data, information, and facts present within user notes and projects to answer queries and generate ideas.
3. When will NotebookLM receive a broader release?
As of September 2023, Google NotebookLM is still being tested within the United States. There’s no clarity on when these tests will conclude. NotebookLM remains a bare-bones application that will require considerable enhancements before it reaches consumers.