Google’s NotebookLM Video Overviews: First Look & Features
▼ Summary
– Video Overviews in NotebookLM will feature narrated slides with text, images, and visuals but no animation, targeting structured learning for students and researchers.
– Google announced Video Overviews at I/O but has not yet released them publicly, though internal files for topics like “Yellowstone Park” already exist.
– NotebookLM recently introduced Shared Notebooks, allowing users to explore curated content and access pre-generated audio overviews.
– Featured Notebooks, launched in July 2025, offer expert-curated guides on diverse topics, accessible directly from the homepage.
– NotebookLM’s factual, slide-based video approach contrasts with more animated tools like Sparkify, focusing on educational utility over entertainment.
Google’s NotebookLM is expanding its capabilities with an upcoming video overview feature designed to enhance learning through visual and auditory summaries. While the tool already offers audio overviews for uploaded content, this new addition will automatically generate narrated video presentations combining text, images, and diagrams. Though announced months ago, the feature remains in testing and hasn’t yet rolled out to the public.
Recent updates to NotebookLM include Shared Notebooks, a library of curated resources covering topics from scientific research to expert advice. Users can explore these pre-made notebooks, interact with their content, and listen to existing audio summaries. However, investigations reveal that video overviews are already being tested internally, with samples found for subjects like “Yellowstone Park” and “Human Ageing.” These early versions follow a straightforward slide-based format, static visuals paired with a voiceover, rather than animated sequences.
The videos maintain a clean, educational style with a NotebookLM watermark and basic playback controls. Unlike Google’s more expressive Sparkify project, which focuses on storytelling, NotebookLM’s approach prioritizes clarity and structure, catering to students, researchers, and professionals who rely on factual, digestible content. The absence of dynamic elements suggests a deliberate choice to keep the tool functional rather than flashy.
While the technical groundwork appears complete, Google seems to be holding back the official release, possibly timing it strategically, whether to align with academic calendars or respond to competitors. The discovery of these hidden features highlights how independent analysis can uncover developments before public announcements, giving early insight into what’s next for the platform.
For now, NotebookLM continues to refine its position as a practical knowledge management tool, balancing innovation with utility. As video overviews near their debut, users can expect a more immersive way to engage with their curated content, whenever Google decides the time is right.
(Source: Testing Catalog)
