Google has unveiled a new feature for its NotebookLM service that aims to streamline the process of sourcing information for specific topics. Named Discover Sources, this AI-driven tool can search the web for relevant content, enhancing users’ ability to gather and organize information. The feature was announced on Wednesday and utilizes the company’s Gemini technology, arriving shortly after the introduction of the Mind Maps functionality in NotebookLM.
NotebookLM’s Discover Sources Is Powered by Gemini
In a recent blog post, Google provided insights into the capabilities of the new NotebookLM feature. Discover Sources is being rolled out to all users, without restrictions tied to the Plus subscription. The company highlighted that this addition empowers users to explore and understand new subjects even in the absence of prior documents or references.
To access the Discover Sources feature, users should open a new notebook in NotebookLM and navigate to the Sources panel. Here, they will find a button adorned with a magnifying glass and the Gemini sparkle icon located beside the “Add Sources” option. Clicking on this button will bring up a pop-up featuring the prompt “What are you interested in?” along with a text input field.
Users can input a query about the topic they wish to explore. Following this, the Gemini system conducts a web search to provide up to ten high-quality sources relevant to the inquiry. These sources can then be manually incorporated into the user’s notebook.
Once the sources are added, users can utilize the full scope of NotebookLM features to work with the information, which includes generating Briefing Docs, FAQs, and Audio Overviews. The imported sources will remain accessible, allowing users to read the original content and interact with the chatbot for additional inquiries.
Furthermore, new users have the option to click on the “I’m Feeling Curious” button, prompting Gemini to suggest sources on a random topic, assisting them in starting their research journey. Google emphasized that Discover Sources serves as a crucial tool for discovering new information.
