NotebookLM Changed Completely: Here's What Matters (in 2026)
About this video
Jeff Su argues NotebookLM is still best when you already know which sources contain the answers, those sources span different formats (PDFs, spreadsheets, slides, audio, video), and answers must stay grounded with no hallucinations. He walks through the three-column layout — Sources on the left, Chat in the middle, Studio on the right — using a Google example building a proposal to increase Gemini usage in Asia Pacific. For Discover Sources he distinguishes Web + Fast Research (like Google Search inside NotebookLM, review and pick at most three sources as a quality filter), Drive + Fast Research (like Drive search), and Web + Deep Research (which synthesizes a report, but he does not recommend it here, preferring Deep Research in Gemini, ChatGPT, or Claude). He covers Configure Chat with a custom instruction generated via Gemini, deleting chat history after saving useful points as notes or sources, and the Source Guide. In Studio, tier-one tools are Reports (use the dynamic suggested formats or Create Your Own), Slide Decks (Presenter vs Detailed; output downloads as images, not editable elements, but useful for narrative and revisable per slide, including 9:16 vertical carousels), Infographics, and Mind Maps. Tier-two tools include Data Tables exportable to Google Sheets, Video Overviews (plus cinematic mode using Google’s VEO model, limited to Ultra subscribers), Quizzes, Flashcards, and Audio Overviews, which he calls mainly a gimmick except for listening to long newsletters on the mobile app while commuting.
Key takeaways
- Use NotebookLM when sources are known, mixed-format, and grounding matters more than creativity; use Gemini, ChatGPT, Claude, or Grok for brainstorming, creative copy, or code.
- For Fast Research pick a maximum of three sources to force manual review; Google Docs, Slides, and Sheets sources are living documents you can sync, while PDFs are static.
- If a website cannot be added directly, copy its text via Reading Mode and paste it in as a Copied Text source; foreign-language sources can still be added and queried in English.
- Set a notebook-wide custom instruction in Configure Chat, save valuable chat answers as notes and turn key insights into sources, and delete chat history before a new conversation.
- In Studio prioritize Reports, Slide Decks, Infographics, and Mind Maps; upload a brand guideline as a source and reference it in custom instructions to keep all three on brand.
Episode details: published March 17, 2026 · 20:31 long. Summary written by Self Growth Videos from the episode itself. Business results and any income figures mentioned are Jeff Su’s own claims, shared for education — they are not typical or guaranteed.
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