Google adds short AI video summaries to NotebookLM
NotebookLM can now generate 60-second vertical videos from uploaded sources for Google AI Ultra and Pro subscribers, The Verge reports.
By Maya Lindqvist · Senior Technology Correspondent
2 min read
Google is adding short AI-generated video summaries to NotebookLM, giving users another way to review material they have uploaded to the research app. The feature matters because it turns notes and sources into a 60-second vertical clip with narration and generated visuals, according to The Verge.
The Verge reported that the tool is rolling out first to Google AI Ultra and Pro subscribers. Google is limiting the launch to English for now, with access for free users expected “soon,” according to the report.
NotebookLM already lets users work with research materials in several generated formats. The Verge reported that those options include AI podcasts, cinematic video summaries and visual explainers.
How the clips work
According to The Verge, users can create a short video from either NotebookLM on the web or in the app. The process starts by opening a notebook, then choosing “Video” in the Studio column on the right side of the screen.
From there, users select “Short,” pick a topic for NotebookLM to focus on or enter a topic themselves, and then press “Generate,” The Verge reported. The resulting clips are designed for vertical viewing and run for 60 seconds.
Google shared an example on X that focused on Australia’s unsuccessful war against emus, according to The Verge. The sample paired narration with AI-made images of emus in a paper cutout style.
Another format for AI summaries
The new video option expands Google’s effort to make NotebookLM a tool for turning documents and research into more digestible media. The Verge described the feature as a way to catch up on notes through brief clips rather than only reading or listening.
The feature also puts NotebookLM closer to the short-form video habits common on social apps, while keeping the content tied to the user’s own uploaded material. The Verge reported that the videos are based on the sources a user adds to NotebookLM.
Google has not made the short-video tool available to all users at launch, according to The Verge. For now, the rollout is tied to paid Google AI Ultra and Pro plans, with broader access planned later.
This story draws on original reporting from The Verge.