Exploring NotebookLM: A New Way to Think With AI

 This week, I’ve been diving into a tool that’s new to me: NotebookLM. I’ve used AI platforms in my work everything from procedure writing to training design to investigation support but NotebookLM stands out because it flips the usual AI model on its head. Instead of pulling from the entire internet (verified, unverified, relevant, irrelevant… all mixed together), NotebookLM lets you define the universe of information the AI is allowed to use. That single shift changes everything.

With NotebookLM, you build “notebooks” filled with the sources you want the AI to consider. These can be websites, documents, videos, images, audio files, handwritten notes, or even content generated by NotebookLM itself. Each notebook becomes a curated knowledge space, and the AI stays inside the boundaries you set. That’s both the strength and the potential limitation of the tool: it will only use what you give it. If something isn’t in your notebook, it won’t magically fill in the gaps.

But the real power comes from what you can do with the information once it’s in there. NotebookLM doesn’t stop at answering questions. It can turn your curated content into audio summaries, infographics, mind maps, flashcards, and more. It becomes a collaborator one that helps you think, organize, and create, not one that replaces your thinking. For someone who works in human performance, training, and procedure development, that distinction matters. Tools like this can enhance learning, support deeper understanding, and help us teach others more effectively.

I’m genuinely excited to see how everyone interacts with NotebookLM this week. Whether you’re brand new to it or already experimenting, there’s a lot of potential here for personal learning and for the way we support others.


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