For years, OneNote has been my trusted companion for capturing thoughts and organizing information. While it comes with a robust search function, I wanted a system that actively engages with this wealth of data. Here is where I came across Google’s NotebookLM AI tool, which has a unique take on extracting information through uploaded documents, weblinks, YouTube videos, and PDF files.
That’s why I decided to combine both in my knowledge management system. I wanted to see whether the strengths of OneNote and NotebookLM bridge the gap between static notes and dynamic understanding. Here’s how my experiment went.
Why did I combine NotebookLM with OneNote?
Best of both worlds
It’s no secret that OneNote has been my to-go digital brain. When Microsoft unveiled Copilot for OneNote, I was intrigued by the promise of AI-powered assistance within my familiar workspace. However, it requires a monthly $20 subscription, and after signing up for a month of free trial, the Copilot integration left me wanting more.
Copilot works on a specific page only. There is no way to extract information from multiple pages, sections, or notebooks. It can’t read content from embedded YouTube videos, documents, or web links either. That’s when NotebookLM entered the picture. Here was a tool that allowed me to leverage my existing, organized OneNote pages in a whole new way.
Now, I can’t move entirely to NotebookLM either. For instance, Google’s AI note-taking tool is available on the web only. There are no mobile or tablet apps, which is a deal-breaker. Besides, I rely on several OneNote features like drawing tools, math formulas, and the ability to password-protect sections, and they are definitely non-negotiable.
Overall, I leverage OneNote’s strengths in capture and organization, then tap into NotebookLM’s powerful AI for deeper analysis and creative output.
My current study and research process
Leveraging OneNote notes in NotebookLM
My study and research process is now heavily reliant on OneNote and NotebookLM. Whether I’m attending online lectures on my MacBook Pro, diving into video tutorials on my iPad Pro, or quickly jotting down ideas on my Pixel 8, OneNote serves as my central hub for capturing information in real-time.
During online sessions, I actively take notes, use the web clipper to bookmark important webpages, use the stylus on my iPad to fly through complex ideas, and organize everything in a structured manner. Once a significant amount of material has been gathered within a OneNote section or page, I strategically export it as a PDF.
I then feed these exported PDFs into NotebookLM. The AI within NotebookLM acts as my intelligent research assistant. For example, when I decided to learn about Python integration in Excel, my first instinct was to gather all the relevant information in OneNote.
I jotted down notes on the various supported libraries, their features, and potential applications. I documented the steps involved in enabling the integration within Excel itself and even included code snippets about how to run Python scripts.
Once I felt I had a solid foundation of notes, I exported that entire OneNote section as a PDF, created a new notebook in NotebookLM, and uploaded the same to get concise summaries of such a complex topic. Similarly, I plan to leverage this duo to learn more about self-hosting tools.
Saving my NotebookLM findings in OneNote notebooks
Audio overviews and graph views
Once I fed my OneNote-captured knowledge into NotebookLM, the real magic started. It wasn’t just about reading my notes back to me; NotebookLM truly helped me leverage the key insights embedded within them.
For instance, when I asked about the best libraries for data analysis in Excel using Python, NotebookLM not only listed the relevant ones like pandas and openpyxl but also highlighted their specific strengths and weaknesses in the Excel context. This comparative analysis gave me a much clearer understanding of which tool to reach for in different scenarios.
Beyond just answering questions, NotebookLM offered powerful ways to visualize and interact with the information. The mind map generation feature was particularly insightful. It automatically extracted the core concepts from my notes.
My favorite feature is the audio overview. Instead of just rereading my notes, I could listen to a concise audio summary highlighting the key takeaways. I can always save mind maps and audio overviews from NotebookLM and embed the same into my OneNote pages. Once everything is ready, I can share the entire notebook with others as well.
Unlocking smarter note-taking
I can understand how exporting data from OneNote and using the same in NotebookLM feels like an extra step. But in my experience, it’s worth it. I’m surely using this duo to learn more concepts and tools like Docker, Podman, Framer, and more. For instance, I plan to use OneNote to collect Figma tutorials, design practices, and personal project notes. NotebookLM could then help me analyze these resources, identify recurring themes in UI/UX design, and perhaps even suggest more efficient workflows based on the patterns in my notes.
If you are new to NotebookLM, check out these essential tips to supercharge your productivity.
