Google’s Gemini may be the most visible face of its artificial intelligence efforts, but another AI tool is quietly gaining traction as a surprisingly useful resource. NotebookLM, described by Google as “a research and thinking partner,” is evolving into a powerful tool for synthesizing information and content creation.
The update, announced January 27, 2026, adds a highly requested feature: the ability to modify presentation slides generated from uploaded documents. Previously, users could generate slide decks from their files, but lacked the ability to edit them or export them in the widely-used PPTX format. Now, users can refine slides with simple prompts, and export presentations in PPTX format, with Google Slides compatibility coming soon. This development underscores the growing demand for AI-powered tools that streamline workflows and enhance productivity.
While initially geared toward academic use, NotebookLM’s capabilities extend far beyond the classroom. The tool excels at understanding and creating documents, offering a range of functionalities including audio summaries, video summaries, mind maps, reports, flashcards, quizzes, infographics, presentations, and data tables.
NotebookLM distinguishes itself from other AI models through its reliability and focus on accuracy. It’s designed to minimize “hallucinations” – the tendency of some AI to invent information – and prioritize process optimization. Rather than striving for creative flair, NotebookLM aims to be a highly useful and practical tool, operating solely on files uploaded by the user, rather than scouring the web independently.
- Resúmenes de audio
- Resúmenes de vídeo
- Mapas mentales
- Informes
- Tarjetas didácticas
- Cuestionarios
- Infografías
- Presentaciones
- Tablas de datos
Google’s approach to its AI suite differs from competitors. While Gemini is integrated into Android mobile devices and includes the Nano Banana text-to-image model, accessing the full power of Google’s AI requires a visit to Google AI Studio.
- Un modelo fiable, sin alucinaciones ni inventos.
- Una herramienta pensada por y para agilizar procesos, sin más.
- No compite por ser el más creativo, compite por ser el más útil en su terreno.
- No navega por la web a su ritmo, solo trabaja con los archivos que subimos.
Google appears to be intentionally keeping NotebookLM as a separate web-based tool, rather than fully integrating it into Gemini, positioning it as a specialized solution for specific use cases. This strategy reflects Google’s financial strength and business model, which prioritizes user adoption over direct AI sales, unlike some other tech giants.
Administrators can control access to NotebookLM as a source within Gemini through the Admin Console, and must enable the NotebookLM service for end users to access the feature. Users can add NotebookLM notebooks to chats in Gemini via the “+” button in the prompt box. It’s critical to note that usage of NotebookLM features within Gemini is subject to NotebookLM’s compliance certifications, which may differ from those of Gemini itself.
Imagen | Xataka
