UW-Madison Google Workspace - Getting started with NotebookLM
NotebookLM is a Google Gemini-driven AI application that allows you to get a quicker and streamlined overview of your documents. By using your uploaded materials, NotebookLM can help you analyze information accurately while minimizing AI hallucinations.
Enterprise data-protection: Your data is not human reviewed or used for Generative AI model training when using your UW-Madison Google Workspace for Education account.
Approved data types: Public and internal only.
Topics:- What is NotebookLM
- Log in
- Supported Document Types
- Use Cases
- Tips
- Training & Resources
- AI Disclosure & Policy
Please note: The content on this page is subject to change due to frequent changes to service offerings and newly released features by Google.
What is NotebookLM
NotebookLM is an AI-based "personalized research assistant." Unlike standard chatbots, it relies specifically on the sources you provide to generate summaries, transcripts, audio overviews, mind maps, and more.
The following usage limits are approximate and subject to change without notice.
Features and Usage Limits
| Feature |
NotebookLM (Free) **UW-Madison Google Workspace accounts** |
NotebookLM in Plus (Paid) | NotebookLM in Pro (Paid) |
| Notebooks | 100/user | 200/user | 500/user |
| Sources | 50/notebook | 100/notebook | 300/notebook |
| Chat Queries | 50/day | 200/day | 500/day |
| Audio Overviews | 3/day | 6/day | 20/day |
| Video Overviews | 3/day | 6/day | 20/day Cinematic video overviews: 2/days |
| Reports | 10/day | 20/day | 100/day |
| Flashcards | 10/day | 20/day | 100/day |
| Mind Maps | No Limits | No Limits | No Limits |
| Quizzes | 10/day | 20/day | 100/day |
| Deep Research | 10 sessions/month | 20 sessions/month | 20 sessions/day |
| Data Table | Limited | More Limits | Higher Limits |
| Infographics | Limited | More Limits | Higher Limits |
| Slides Desk and Revisions | Limited | More Limits | Higher Limits |
| Advanced Features | Standard access | Early access to new tools | Priority access + Custom Personas |
Log in
Current UW-Madison faculty, students, and staff can access the free version of NotebookLM using their university credentials.
Log in:
Credentials: Use your NetID@wisc.edu email to sign in via the UW-Madison Google Workspace. This ensures you are using a university-supported instance.
Supported Document Types
You can upload up to 50 files per notebook.
- Google Drive: Direct integration with Google Docs and Google Slides.
- Local Files: PDF, TXT, and Markdown (.md).
- Web Content: Public URLs and YouTube video transcripts.
- Audio: MP3 and other common audio formats.
- Manual Entry: Copied-and-pasted text.
Use Cases
Faculty
- Syllabus Analysis: Upload your syllabus and course materials to create a FAQ for students regarding grading policies and deadlines.
- Lecture Preparation: Convert lengthy research papers into concise lecture outlines or discussion prompts.
- Course Design: Accelerate lesson planning and generate student-friendly discussion prompts.
- Lecture Prep: Condense complex topics into digestible formats, including audio overviews for student review.
Researchers
- Literature Reviews: Analyze large volumes of research papers to identify connections and prepare reviews more efficiently.
- Research Synthesis: Quickly sift through academic journals to find relevant information with direct citations back to the source.
- Gap Analysis: Use the tool to identify unanswered questions or gaps in your uploaded source library.
- Grant Writing: Upload grant RFPs alongside your research drafts to ensure all evaluation criteria are addressed.
Students
- Study Guides: Upload lecture notes and textbook chapters to generate practice quizzes or summaries.
- Complex Concepts: Use "Audio Overview" to listen to a conversational deep dive into difficult topics during your commute.
- Writing Assistance: Use chat to find specific citations within your uploaded sources to support your arguments.
Staff
- Policy Navigation: Upload departmental handbooks or policies to quickly find answers to administrative questions.
- Meeting Transcripts: Upload recordings or transcripts of committee meetings to generate action items and summaries.
- Report Generation: Extract essential data from internal reports to create concise briefings or presentations.
Tips for Using NotebookLM
- Multi-Source Synthesis: NotebookLM can analyze all 50 sources simultaneously. Ask questions like, "What do all these authors agree on regarding [Topic]?"
- The "Notes" Section: You can manually add notes or have AI generate them. Selecting a note allows you to "pin" it as a source for future drafts.
- Audio Overviews: Generate a "Deep Dive" conversation between two AI hosts.
- Mind Mapping: Ask for a "visual overview" to generate a structured mind map of your project’s core concepts.
- Cautiously Delete: Deleted notebooks are irrecoverable.
Training & Resources
We recommend the following UW-Madison and Google resources to learn more about using NotebookLM:
- UW-Madison Workshops:
- Self-Paced Training:
AI Disclosure & Policy
While NotebookLM is designed to be grounded in your sources, it is still an AI tool and may occasionally produce inaccuracies. Always cross-check AI-generated summaries against the original source documents.
- Compliance: Adhere to the
UW–Madison Generative AI Policy - Academic Integrity: Students need to follow instructor-specific guidelines regarding the use of AI in coursework and citations.