Let’s be honest—Google’s AI track record is a mix of brilliance and abandoned side projects. So when they finally launched the NotebookLM mobile app at I/O 2025, the real question wasn’t “How groundbreaking is this?” but rather “Will it survive past next year?”
The Good: Offline Playback & AI That (Mostly) Works
For once, Google delivered on a core promise: offline audio summaries. No more begging for Wi-Fi in a coffee shop just to hear your AI regurgitate notes. The app also nails Material Design, because if there’s one thing Google won’t screw up, it’s making things look pretty. But the real win? Pasting URLs as sources and getting instant summaries. It’s like having a grad student who actually reads the paper for you. 🎓
The Bad: Google Being Google
Of course, it wouldn’t be a Google product without quirks. URLs sometimes fail to load, and the app shrugs like a teenager asked to do chores. No explanation, just silence. Navigating between notebooks? A UX maze worthy of a Kafka novel. And let’s talk about “NotebookLM Business”—because nothing says “we’re serious about AI” like slapping collaboration tools and analytics on a beta product.
The Verdict? 🤖
It’s actually useful—if you ignore the rough edges. But given Google’s attention span, enjoy it while it lasts. Pro tip: Wait for the “Video Overviews” update before fully committing. Unless, of course, it gets sunset first.