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Mar 21, 2025

Google's AI Notebook Just Got Smarter With Mind Maps

NotebookLM started as a tiny AI experiment, but it just keeps getting better. First, it got a huge upgrade with AI-generated podcasts, then live interactive discussions, and now another powerful

NotebookLM started as a tiny AI experiment, but it just keeps getting better. First, it got a huge upgrade with AI-generated podcasts, then live interactive discussions, and now another powerful feature to get the most out of your notes.

The latest addition to NotebookLM is the Mind Map feature, bringing a fresh way to interact with your notes and source materials. This tool generates a visual representation of your content, making it easier to grasp complex ideas at a glance.

To use Mind Map, open any notebook in NotebookLM and click Mind Map. Within seconds, you'll see an interactive Mind Map appear, ready to be explored.

Each node represents a concept from your notes, and you can expand them by clicking the arrows to reveal subnodes. This dynamic structure makes it easy to break down information into digestible parts. Beyond being a simple visualization, clicking on a node provides a summary from NotebookLM. You can dive deeper into the topic by asking follow-up questions.

For added convenience, you can download the Mind Map as a PNG image. However, keep in mind that the image reflects the state of the map at the moment of download. If all nodes were expanded, they’d be visible in the image—essentially functioning like a screenshot, since the downloaded version isn’t interactive.

As with most Google features, this update is rolling out gradually. If you don’t see it yet, don’t worry—Google says everyone should have access to Mind Maps within the next two weeks.

Since the AI podcast upgrade, NotebookLM has become a staple in my study routine. I usually play AI-generated podcasts while reviewing materials and navigating my Obsidian vault’s graph view. But with the new Mind Map feature, I'm considering switching—at least for day-to-day study sessions.

I’m a dedicated Obsidian user—that’s where my actual notes live. But day by day, Google seems determined to make NotebookLM a worthy replacement. With every new feature, the web app is becoming harder to ignore.

At this point, I rarely need to leave NotebookLM, except when reviewing my flashcards. If Google added AI-generated flashcards to NotebookLM, it would be an all-in-one powerhouse for studying.

With NotebookLM’s Audio Overview, your notes come to life as engaging conversations between AI hosts.

NotebookLM is shaping up to be one of the best tools to come out of Google’s AI experiments. I’ve always believed Google’s “experimental” tools tend to be more innovative and practical than many of its polished products. I never found Gemini appealing, but the quirky AI tools in Google’s AI Test Kitchen and NotebookLM continue to impress me.

And did I mention that NotebookLM is completely free? While a Plus version is available as part of Google One, I’ve never needed any of its extra features—despite using NotebookLM extensively.

With the addition of Mind Maps, NotebookLM is inching closer to becoming the ultimate study and research tool. If Google keeps up this momentum, it might just redefine how we interact with and organize information.

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Because in the eyes of Google, AI solves all problems.

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Save yourself some time.

AI whispers, AI listens—what could go wrong?