NotebookLM
Google's notebook that answers only from the sources you give it.
Best for
- studying your own documents
- answers that must be traceable
- turning notes into a briefing
Signature move
Ask where your sources contradict each other.
How it wants to be spoken to
Upload the sources first — nothing exists until it's in the notebook.
Name the source you're asking about.
Ask for citations on every claim.
Ask for a study guide, outline or audio overview when you need a different shape.
Why it glitches
None of this is you doing it wrong. These are the shapes it reliably falls into — and the fix beside each.
Says nothing useful when the source isn't there → check the notebook actually has the file.
Summaries lose nuance → ask about a specific section.
Can't see the open web → upload the page you want it to use.
Never invents — which can read as unhelpful → ask what's missing instead.
A prompt that works there
Using only the sources in this notebook: 1) list the five main claims, 2) name the source that supports each, 3) list any place where two sources contradict each other.
Bring Tay your actual task and she'll shape it for NotebookLM.
Practice with Tay