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 posh of sitting with a subject for days earlier than a deadline. I can write about my very own expertise with one thing, however typically I would like dependable background analysis shortly — sufficient to spherical out the story with out disappearing down infinite rabbit holes.

NotebookLM swoops in perfecting to provide me context, different individuals’s views, and a normal understanding of the matters I am protecting — all in a fraction of the time it will take me to sift by means of web site after web site by myself. 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 funds for my funds

I would like all the assistance I can get

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

I in a while made a funds and uploaded it as a PDF and had it analyzed to see if I used to be lacking something, plus the right way to greatest use it going ahead. It did not fairly give me opinions on how mine appeared, but it surely did be aware that I calculated one thing incorrectly, serving to me regulate the funds. What was necessary was the prompts that I gave it, as I requested it to research my funds 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 spotlight among the larger points of interest

My spouse and I not too long ago took a visit to Scotland for a good friend’s marriage ceremony. We knew we would be flying into Edinburgh, heading to Glasgow, after which persevering with on to the coast for the marriage. With just a few days to fill earlier than the ceremony, we would have liked to determine one of the best 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 price seeing.

A easy immediate — asking it to plan just a few days of journey from Edinburgh to Stranraer — pulled up tons of nice suggestions. Planning the journey was straightforward and enjoyable, and I did not must cross-check every thing in Google Maps. NotebookLM adopted the route I wanted based mostly on the immediate alone. I am positively involved in utilizing it to plan extra journeys sooner or later.

3

Studying a brand new ability with Thoughts Map

Why not let NotebookLM give me a breakdown on the right way to do one thing?

In relation to automotive upkeep, I don’t know the very first thing about it. Vehicles have by no means actually me as a passion, and I am more than pleased to let a mechanic deal with something that goes mistaken. However after my final oil change solely took about 20 minutes, I figured — why not strive it myself and save a little bit cash? I pulled collectively just a few sources from the web, together with a YouTube tutorial and a few web sites, and had NotebookLM generate a brand new Pocket book on the right way to change my oil.

I used NotebookLM’s Thoughts Map function to interrupt down the steps — what instruments I would want, the right way to increase my automotive (if potential), and what prep work was required earlier than really getting began. Seeing every thing mapped out intimately gave me a a lot clearer understanding of the method. What I actually appreciated was with the ability to add my automotive’s handbook alongside the net information, so I might see precisely the right way to change the oil for my particular car. Apart from spilling a little bit oil from carelessness, my first try went simply superb.

4

Watching a video to grasp historical past higher

I needed to know extra, and NotebookLM made it straightforward

I am inherently fascinated by baseball. I like the sport and contemplate myself a junkie in relation to studying about stats and its historical past. These days, 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 function took a little bit time to generate, but it surely 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 with the ability to obtain and share the video, which made it simpler to rewatch or go alongside to others.

5

Watching a film for me in a a lot shorter time

Typically I simply cannot do it

I used to be not too long ago having an argument with somebody about one of the best practice scenes in motion pictures. I listed Supply Code as my private favourite because it’s principally set on a practice. They introduced up Bullet Prepare, which I hadn’t seen. I needed to higher perceive what they had been referencing — particularly the ending, which was a giant level in our debate.

I discovered some clips from Bullet Prepare on YouTube and loaded them into NotebookLM. Inside seconds, I had a database to drag from. It summarized the scenes, together with the ending, and gave me a clearer image of the film. Is that this the best solution to expertise a movie? No — I did not get the total visible affect. However did it assist me perceive the plot quicker than studying a Wikipedia abstract? Positively — and with extra element, since NotebookLM analyzed the visuals. It isn’t how I plan to look at motion pictures going ahead, however within the warmth of an argument, it positively got here in helpful.