Gemini Notebook

Google's research notebook, formerly NotebookLM: load a client's documents and ask questions that are answered from those sources, with citations.

Verdict
Worth testing
The job
Reading client documents
Last checked

It is a fast way to get through a client's document dump in discovery week, and Workspace accounts keep uploads out of model training. The rename and new features are still rolling out by plan, so test it on one engagement and check every citation before it reaches a client.

What it does for a consultant

You add a client’s material to a notebook (decks, reports, interview notes, web pages) and ask questions. Answers come from those sources with citations back to the passage. Google renamed NotebookLM to Gemini Notebook in July 2026 and added code execution for data analysis inside a notebook, rolling out by plan.

How members would use it on a client job

  • One notebook per client for discovery: load everything they sent and ask for the open questions, contradictions and gaps before the kickoff call.
  • Draft an audio or video summary of the material for yourself, not the client.
  • Use the citations to jump straight to the passage you need for the report.

The catch

  • Limits depend on the plan: the free Standard tier allows 50 sources per notebook, Google AI Pro 300.
  • Use a Workspace account for client material. Google states Workspace uploads, queries and responses are not reviewed by humans or used to train models; personal accounts may be reviewed if you give feedback.
  • A citation shows where the answer came from, not that it is right. Do not send generated slides or summaries to a client unedited.
  • Code execution is not on free accounts yet.