According to a recent review from Digital Trends Computing, Google’s upgraded NotebookLM now supports code writing and execution, expanded file formats, and built-in web research to assist users in building and managing complex projects more effectively.
- NotebookLM now can write and execute code in cloud environment
- Supports exporting to PDFs, Excel, Word, PowerPoint, and more
- Integrates dynamic web research to build source repositories
Product angle
The source review highlights that NotebookLM’s latest version relies on Google's Gemini 3.5 and the Antigravity coding model to deliver a more thoughtful AI interaction, with each notebook powered by a dedicated cloud computer. This setup enables the tool to write and execute over 100 curated software skills, resulting in measurable accuracy improvements, especially in analyzing large documents and conducting web research.
Furthermore, the notebook environment now supports a wide variety of output file types such as PDFs, spreadsheets, presentations, and data visualizations. Users can specify formatting preferences before exporting and make edits afterward, indicating enhanced flexibility for various professional workflows.
Best for / avoid if
NotebookLM appears well suited for professionals and teams engaged in research-heavy or data-driven projects who benefit from an AI assistant capable of both sophisticated coding and document generation. Its ability to generate and manage sources dynamically encourages exploratory workflows that start with broad questions rather than fully formed material.
However, users seeking offline functionality or a simpler note-taking tool without cloud-based execution and integration may find this product less appropriate. Also, organizations requiring on-premises data controls might need to consider alternatives as NotebookLM relies on Google’s cloud and search infrastructure.
Pricing and alternatives to check
The new features are currently available to Google AI Ultra subscribers and Workspace business customers subscribed to AI Ultra Access and AI Expanded Access plans. These tiers suggest a premium positioning for users needing advanced AI capabilities within the Google ecosystem, though detailed pricing was not disclosed in the source review.
Potential alternatives to explore include other AI-powered notebooks or research assistants focused on offline use or integrated with different cloud providers, as well as specialized tools for code execution or document automation. Users should evaluate based on their platform preferences, access models, and feature requirements.