Google has rolled out Notebooks in the Gemini app, giving users a dedicated space to store chat history, uploaded files, and Google Drive content in one place. The feature was announced on April 9 and includes two-way sync with NotebookLM. For now, it is available on the web to Google AI Plus, Pro, and Ultra subscribers, while free users and mobile access will come later.
A single workspace for chats, files, and saved sources
Google positions Notebooks as more than a static folder. Inside Gemini, it works as a project-style workspace where users can collect materials tied to a specific task or topic. According to reporting cited in the source material, the feature appears in the Gemini sidebar between “My stuff” and “Gems,” and each conversation can be saved with an “Add to notebook” option.
Users can attach several types of sources to a notebook, including local files, Google Drive documents, selected websites, or pasted text. There is also a “Use notebook memory” control that lets users decide whether Gemini should retain the notebook’s context. On top of that, each notebook can include its own Instructions, allowing different response styles or tones depending on the notebook being used.
NotebookLM integration is the main feature
The central part of the launch is its direct link to NotebookLM. A notebook created in Gemini will also appear in NotebookLM, and conversations stored in Gemini can become source material inside NotebookLM automatically. Existing summaries and materials previously organized in NotebookLM can also be brought back into Notebooks for search and reuse.
Google said Notebooks gives users a dedicated space to organize chats and files, and that syncing with NotebookLM unlocks a more efficient workflow directly from Gemini. Gemini now also includes a quick-access entry point to NotebookLM in the top-right corner, reducing the need to switch tools through separate browser tabs.
Web-first rollout for paid users only
The source describes NotebookLM as Google’s AI note-taking and research tool introduced last year. It can take in large volumes of documents, transcripts, and research material, then help users organize information, answer questions, and generate outputs such as podcasts or video summaries. Google’s example use case shows a student adding class notes into a Gemini notebook, generating a “Cinematic Video Overview” in NotebookLM, and then returning to Gemini the next day to draft a thesis outline from that material.
At launch, Notebooks is limited to paid subscribers on the web. Free users and mobile users will need to wait a few more weeks. Google also said the feature is being expanded to more European countries and described the release as a first step, with more capabilities planned for Gemini Notebooks later. The addition comes just after Gemini updated its Android interface on April 7, adding another layer of integration across Google’s Gemini tools.