Google Enhances NotebookLM with Public Link Sharing Feature

Google has introduced a new capability to its AI tool, NotebookLM, allowing users to share notebooks and audio summaries publicly via links, similar to how documents are shared within its Workspace suite.

This update aims to simplify the process of document sharing and curation. Users can create a public link through the sharing function, enabling them to share documents with all NotebookLM users regardless of whether these are project overviews, product manuals, or study guides.

Within the sharing options, users can select access for 'anyone with the link', or choose to share with specific individuals. They can also decide whether viewers have access to the entire notebook or only to specific elements such as chat features.

While viewers cannot edit the original content, they can interact with the public notebooks by asking questions or browsing through generated content like audio summaries, frequently asked questions, or briefing documents. Importantly, if a public notebook is deleted or set to private, any previously created public sharing links will become inactive.

Prior to this update, sharing content from NotebookLM was somewhat cumbersome, requiring the entry of an email address for each recipient. Users could assign roles such as 'viewer' (read-only) or 'editor'. For those with business or educational accounts, additional internal sharing options were available, while Pro subscribers could create a 'chat-only' notebook for viewers.

NotebookLM, which was first introduced as an experimental tool in 2023, has been continuously developed to assist users in collecting materials from various sources, including PDFs, videos, and presentation slides. This AI-powered tool can provide content summaries, generate podcast-style discussions, and engage users in chats about the material. In late May, Google also launched a NotebookLM app for both Android and iOS, further enhancing accessibility and functionality.

This new feature is expected to facilitate collaboration and knowledge sharing among students, colleagues, and professionals, streamlining the way users interact with and disseminate information.