Unlock Your Notes with Mind Maps: Google’s Latest Addition to NotebookLM

Summary of the Article

Google Rolls Out Mind Maps in NotebookLM and More

• Rollout of Mind Maps: Google has introduced the ability to create Mind Maps in NotebookLM, a feature that transforms key concepts from sources into an interactive visual map. This tool is particularly useful for students and researchers who need to explore complex topics.

• Usage Example: For instance, a biology student working on a thesis about Coral Reef Ecosystem Decline can upload research papers and generate a mind map highlighting critical issues such as Ocean Acidification, Rising Sea Temperatures, Pollution, and Overfishing.

• Interface and Features: Mind Maps are accessible via the Chat pane alongside options for adding notes and audio overviews. Users can view the mind map in fullscreen mode, download it as a static image, and interact with chat by minimizing branches.

• Output Language Settings: Google has also introduced an Output Language setting, allowing users to select their preferred language for study guides, briefing documents, and chat responses. However, this feature is not yet widely available.

• Recent Improvements: Other enhancements include the appearance of citations in saved notes from chat (Q&A) responses, the ability to uncheck/select sources when generating notes, and a quality-of-life improvement that prevents auto-scrolling to the bottom of Q&A responses.

• Model Upgrade: NotebookLM now uses a Gemini 2.0 'thinking' model for smarter answers, though it's unclear if this is version 2.0 Flash Thinking or 2.5 Pro. Additionally, there are Long Context upgrades for users with larger notebooks.