5 methods I’ve turned NotebookLM into my digital mind

NotebookLM has develop into an actual game-changer in the way in which I analysis and put together. As a contract author, I do not all the time have the luxurious of sitting with a subject for days earlier than a deadline. I can write about my very own expertise with one thing, however usually I would like dependable background analysis shortly — sufficient to spherical out the story with out disappearing down limitless rabbit holes.

NotebookLM swoops in perfecting to present me context, different folks’s views, and a basic understanding of the matters I am protecting — all in a fraction of the time it will take me to sift via website after website alone. The Audio Overviews have been particularly helpful. I can let the AI-generated podcast run whereas I am making breakfast, driving, or simply stepping away from my desk. The flexibility to maintain absorbing materials with out being tied to my laptop computer has saved me numerous hours.

Over time, I’ve even began weaving it into my private life. I’ve used NotebookLM to streamline time administration, manage family analysis initiatives, and make sense of lengthy articles or movies with out having to dedicate a full night to them. Listed here are a few of my favourite methods to make use of the software.

1

Organising a price range for my funds

I would like all the assistance I can get

I will be the primary to confess I am not essentially the most organized in relation to budgeting or planning for my monetary future. Saving constantly has by no means been my sturdy swimsuit, and I’ve all the time struggled with discovering a budgeting system that really sticks. However NotebookLM got here in helpful with this job; I uploaded a couple of free budgeting guides and instruments I would collected over time and had it summarize them for me.

I afterward made a price range and uploaded it as a PDF and had it analyzed to see if I used to be lacking something, plus methods to finest use it going ahead. It did not fairly give me opinions on how mine seemed, however it did word that I calculated one thing incorrectly, serving to me modify the price range. What was necessary was the prompts that I gave it, as I requested it to research my price range based mostly on the period of time I wanted and the way a lot I make.

2

Planning an itinerary for a visit

It was an enormous assist to focus on a number of the larger points of interest

My spouse and I just lately took a visit to Scotland for a good friend’s wedding ceremony. We knew we might be flying into Edinburgh, heading to Glasgow, after which persevering with on to the coast for the marriage. With a couple of days to fill earlier than the ceremony, we would have liked to determine one of the simplest ways to spend our time. I uploaded a mixture of journey blogs and official golf course web sites to get a way of what was value seeing.

A easy immediate — asking it to plan a couple of days of journey from Edinburgh to Stranraer — pulled up tons of nice suggestions. Planning the journey was straightforward and enjoyable, and I did not have to cross-check all the pieces in Google Maps. NotebookLM adopted the route I wanted based mostly on the immediate alone. I am undoubtedly occupied with utilizing it to plan extra journeys sooner or later.

3

Studying a brand new talent with Thoughts Map

Why not let NotebookLM give me a breakdown on methods to do one thing?

In the case of automobile upkeep, I don’t know the very first thing about it. Vehicles have by no means actually me as a passion, and I am very happy to let a mechanic deal with something that goes flawed. However after my final oil change solely took about 20 minutes, I figured — why not attempt it myself and save just a little cash? I pulled collectively a couple of assets from the web, together with a YouTube tutorial and a few web sites, and had NotebookLM generate a brand new Pocket book on methods to change my oil.

I used NotebookLM’s Thoughts Map characteristic to interrupt down the steps — what instruments I would want, methods to elevate my automobile (if attainable), and what prep work was required earlier than really getting began. Seeing all the pieces mapped out intimately gave me a a lot clearer understanding of the method. What I actually favored was having the ability to add my automobile’s guide alongside the web data, so I may see precisely methods to change the oil for my particular automobile. Apart from spilling just a little oil from carelessness, my first try went simply effective.

4

Watching a video to grasp historical past higher

I wished to know extra, and NotebookLM made it straightforward

I am inherently fascinated by baseball. I really like the sport and think about myself a junkie in relation to studying about stats and its historical past. Currently, I have been particularly within the historical past of the Negro Leagues, so I requested NotebookLM to dive deeper into it. I uploaded content material from the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum, MLB.com’s Negro Leagues part, and Historical past.com’s protection to get began. Then I attempted one thing new: I requested it to make me a video.

The brand new Video Overview characteristic took just a little time to generate, however it produced a six-minute AI-created video on the historical past of the Negro Leagues. I used to be pleasantly stunned — it lined the broad strokes of how the league started, together with deeper evaluation of its success. I additionally appreciated having the ability to obtain and share the video, which made it simpler to rewatch or move alongside to others.

5

Watching a film for me in a a lot shorter time

Generally I simply cannot do it

I used to be just lately having an argument with somebody about the most effective practice scenes in films. I listed Supply Code as my private favourite because it’s largely set on a practice. They introduced up Bullet Practice, which I hadn’t seen. I wished to raised perceive what they had been referencing — particularly the ending, which was a giant level in our debate.

I discovered some clips from Bullet Practice on YouTube and loaded them into NotebookLM. Inside seconds, I had a database to tug from. It summarized the scenes, together with the ending, and gave me a clearer image of the film. Is that this the perfect approach to expertise a movie? No — I did not get the complete visible affect. However did it assist me perceive the plot quicker than studying a Wikipedia abstract? Undoubtedly — and with extra element, since NotebookLM analyzed the visuals. It isn’t how I plan to observe films going ahead, however within the warmth of an argument, it undoubtedly got here in helpful.