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Google NotebookLM

Google NotebookLM is an AI-powered research assistant used to help you understand, organise and synthesise information.

Unlike general AI tools (such as Google Gemini), NotebookLM is prioritises the sources you provide. This means it generates responses based solely on the documents you upload – such as research papers, lecture notes, meeting transcripts or website links – rather than relying on its general knowledge.

You can use NotebookLM to manage large volumes of information and automate routine research tasks, such as finding specific details across multiple documents or drafting summaries.

When using AI tools, you must protect University data. Learn about your responsibilities.

Key features

  • Upload multiple file types: import Google Docs, PDFs, text files, website URLs, and audio recordings into a single notebook.
  • Get cited answers: ask questions about your sources and receive responses with direct citations, allowing you to verify the information in the original text.
  • Identify themes across sources: compare multiple documents at once to find common themes, contradictions or gaps in research.
  • Generate study aids: upload lecture notes and readings to create interactive quizzes, flashcards and summary guides.
  • Create audio overviews: generate a podcast-style discussion between two speakers to help you review complex material through listening.
  • Generate summaries: view written overviews and generate audio discussion between two speakers based on your uploaded material.
  • Generate code: use your sources to generate code snippets in various programming languages.
  • Share notebooks with others: work with colleagues or students by sharing access to your notebooks for collaborative research.
  • Build a shared knowledge base: use shared sources to ensure a team is working from the same information.

Are you using NotebookLM?

Help us learn about this new tool, so we can help others. We'd love to know how you're using it in your work, studies or research.

Contact IT Services and include "FAO: Workflow and Improvement team" in the subject line.

Access instructions

Open NotebookLM

Related tools

Available to staff and students

You can use this service on University-managed and personal devices.

Web-based

This service works in your web browser.

Funded by the University

There isn’t a cost to you for standard use.

Access instructions

Open NotebookLM

Related tools

Guides and help

How-to guides and set up

Training and best practice

Accessibility

Contact for support

If you’re experiencing technical issues and need advice, please contact IT Services.

Service commitments

Your responsibilities and policies

In order to keep University data secure and comply with data protection laws, staff and students must only use generative AI tools that are provided and licensed by the University. This ensures appropriate contractual provisions are in place to protect University data. Do not use personal accounts with the same or alternative providers as these do not provide the same level of protections. 

The University's guidance on using information classification sets out how generative AI may be used responsibly with different classifications of University information. You must read this guidance and familiarise yourself with the types of information it is safe to share with GenAI tools before using them. 

Please be aware that even if the service doesn't use the information you input to train AI models, you must still follow university guidance and only share the types of information we classify as safe to share.

The use of personal data is governed by the University’s University of York Data Protection Policy (PDF , 240kb) and associated Special Categories of Personal Data Policy, if you are processing personal data that is likely to result in a high risk to individuals’ interests you must undertake the Data Protection Impact Assessment (DPIA) screening process. This will help to ensure compliance with Data Protection legislation. For support with this, please contact the Data Protection team.

You must not upload any copyrighted content, including journals, to any generative AI tools unless you have confirmed this is acceptable with the publisher; please contact your faculty librarian to discuss this. 

The following policies apply to all IT services provided by the University.

Service performance

Availability

Support

  • This service is managed by a third party.
  • They are responsible for monitoring, identifying and fixing faults. We provide advice and support for local issues during our opening hours.
  • See Google Workspace for further details.

Standards

  • Our service performance and standards have been produced in consultation with our customers. We regularly monitor the delivery, performance and availability of facilities and services.
Feedback and complaints

We appreciate feedback as it helps us review and continually improve our service.

Page last reviewed: 12 January 2026