Google has introduced a new artificial intelligence (AI) feature for its NotebookLM platform designed to enhance users’ comprehension of intricate subjects. On Tuesday, the tech company based in Mountain View announced the launch of Video Overviews, a tool that generates visually-oriented narrations from various sources. This innovative feature is intended to supplement the current Audio Overviews functionality, particularly in situations where visual breakdowns of complex content can provide greater clarity.
Google NotebookLM Can Now Generate Visual Slides
In a blog post, Google outlined the details of the Video Overviews feature within NotebookLM. This addition falls under the platform’s Studio outputs and includes narrated slides. Originally unveiled during the Google I/O 2025 event, the feature is now officially available to users across all tiers, including those on the free plan.
Video Overviews in NotebookLM
Members of the Gadgets 360 team had the opportunity to try out the new feature, which effectively produces a series of static visual slides reminiscent of a PowerPoint presentation, incorporating diagrams, emojis, text, graphs, and tables. Key quotations from the sources are interwoven into the presentation as needed. An AI voice provides narration to accompany the entire slideshow, although users do not have the option to change the narrator’s voice.
During testing, the tool functioned as intended, but some users noted that the narration sometimes generalized the content and overlooked certain important details from the sources. This level of nuance was more effectively conveyed through the Audio Overviews.
Google emphasized that Video Overviews could significantly enhance the explanation of information-rich topics, particularly those that contain extensive data, procedural elements, or abstract concepts. This format allows users to specify particular topics of interest, outline learning objectives, and define the target audience.
In addition to the new feature, Google is also refreshing the Studio panel, which encompasses both Audio and Video Overviews as well as Mind Maps and Reports. The updated interface will feature four large tiles on the right side, allowing for more straightforward access to these tools. Any content generated through these features will be displayed in a list format beneath the tiles. Notably, users will now be able to see a Mind Map while simultaneously engaging with an Audio Overview.
Furthermore, the previous limitation that restricted users to creating a single output from each tool in a notebook has been lifted, allowing for the creation and storage of multiple outputs of the same type within a single notebook.
