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NotebookLM gets Gemini 2.5 Flash as it prepares to launch as a standalone app

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The research tool is rapidly gaining improvements.

A promotional image for the Discover sources feature in NotebookLM.
(Image credit: Google)

What you need to know

  • NotebookLM is now powered by the Gemini 2.5 Flash model, a thinking model that can handle multi-step reasoning.
  • Earlier this week, NotebookLM's popular Audio Overviews feature received expanded support for over 50 languages.
  • The software tool will get a standalone app at Google I/O 2025, and you can pre-register for it now.

NotebookLM's chatbot and research functions are now powered by Gemini 2.5 Flash, a thinking model with advanced reasoning techniques, Google announced today, May 2 in a post on X (formerly Twitter). The company says the Gemini 2.5 Flash upgrade will only impact NotebookLM's chatbot and Q&A modes, leaving Audio Overviews unchanged.

"It's been a busy week for us. SO busy that we forgot to mention that @NotebookLM is officially powered by Gemini 2.5 Flash," the official NotebookLM account posted on X (formerly Twitter). "The 2.5 models are thinking models, so you should start to see more comprehensive answers, particularly to complex, multi-step reasoning questions."

The move comes after Google announced that NotebookLM's Audio Overviews are now available in over 50 languages earlier this week in a blog post. The change also added an Output Language setting for Audio Overviews that can be separate from your default language, which can be helpful for bilingual and multilingual research and studying.

In a separate move, Google has big plans for NotebookLM at Google I/O 2025, which is set to take place later this month in Mountain View, California. NotebookLM will launch as a standalone app, and you can pre-register for it on the App Store and Google Play Store.

"Turn complexity into clarity with NotebookLM, your brain’s new best friend," the app's description reads. "Join the millions of students, creators, researchers, professionals, CEOs, and more who are saving time, getting stuff done, and learning in new ways."

Google demoes Project Tailwind

NotebookLM was first previewed as Project Tailwind at Google I/O 2022. (Image credit: Google)

The NotebookLM app will officially debut at Google I/O 2025, the company's annual developer conference. The timing is significant for NotebookLM, as the popular research tool was first revealed as Project Tailwind at Google I/O two years prior.

For now, you can use NotebookLM to learn and study while using one of Google's newest AI models in Gemini 2.5 Flash.

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Brady Snyder
Brady Snyder
Contributor

Brady is a tech journalist for Android Central, with a focus on news, phones, tablets, audio, wearables, and software. He has spent the last three years reporting and commenting on all things related to consumer technology for various publications. Brady graduated from St. John's University with a bachelor's degree in journalism. His work has been published in XDA, Android Police, Tech Advisor, iMore, Screen Rant, and Android Headlines. When he isn't experimenting with the latest tech, you can find Brady running or watching Big East basketball.

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