Google's rebranding of NotebookLM to Gemini Notebook signals bigger plans ahead, but the AI research tool still lacks several features that power users say would transform its capabilities. The shift from NotebookLM to Gemini Notebook began as a cosmetic change, but early signs suggest Google is preparing substantial upgrades to the AI-powered note-taking platform.

What Features Are Users Asking Google to Add?

Since the rebranding announcement, Google has already rolled out new functionality like Collections, which allows users to group related notebooks together similar to a playlist. However, regular users and professionals are identifying gaps that could unlock the tool for more complex workflows. A recent analysis of the Gemini app's underlying code hints at upcoming features, including the ability to add website links directly as sources within the app.

Beyond these incremental improvements, users are requesting features that would fundamentally expand how researchers, students, and professionals can organize and manage their work. The most frequently cited requests reveal a pattern: users want better ways to consolidate information, preserve their research, and create more interactive learning experiences.

• Notebook Merging: The ability to combine multiple related notebooks into a single document would help graduate students and researchers consolidate work across chapters or topics without relying on third-party tools or workarounds.
• Source Export Functionality: A one-click download option for previously uploaded PDFs and documents would eliminate the need to use Google Takeout or maintain separate archives of research materials.
• Interactive Learning Games: Expanding beyond quizzes and diagrams to include game-show-style competitions or simple learning games similar to classic educational software would deepen engagement with study materials.
• Live Database Connectors: Direct integration with tools like Obsidian, Slack, or GitHub repositories would allow notebooks to automatically update as source data changes, bypassing current file-volume limits.
• Higher File and Word Limits: Increasing capacity beyond the current 500,000 words per source and 200MB file limit would serve enterprise users and large-scale academic research projects.

Why Haven't These Features Been Implemented Yet?

The absence of these capabilities isn't arbitrary. Gemini Notebook is built around a technology called retrieval-augmented generation (RAG), which grounds the AI's responses in actual source material to prevent hallucinations and false information. Merging multiple notebooks significantly increases the risk of hallucinations because the AI must synthesize information across independent datasets, a challenge that becomes more difficult as data volume grows.

Live database connections present additional obstacles. Tying Gemini Notebook to constantly updating databases would strain the RAG architecture, which isn't optimized for aggregated or real-time data. Security vulnerabilities also emerge when connecting to live operational systems like inventory databases or customer transaction records.

File and word limits are primarily constrained by computing costs. Processing larger documents requires more computational resources, which directly impacts operational expenses. However, users argue that tiered subscription models could justify higher limits for business and professional users willing to pay premium rates.

How to Make the Most of Gemini Notebook Today

While waiting for these features, users can employ several workarounds to maximize the tool's current capabilities:

• Document Chunking: Break larger documents into smaller, more manageable files before uploading to improve parsing accuracy and ensure the AI reads complete information rather than creating incomplete snippets.
• Markdown Formatting: Use markdown syntax and heading hierarchies to reinforce parent-child relationships within documents, making it easier for the AI to scan and prioritize relevant content during analysis.
• Cross-Notebook Analysis: Upload or reference multiple notebook links within Google Gemini itself and ask the AI to cross-analyze, synthesize, or combine content across all attached notebooks, though this requires additional steps outside the native workspace.
• Google Takeout Archiving: Regularly request data archives through Google Takeout to maintain backups of uploaded sources, ensuring you retain copies even if original materials are lost.

What's Next for Gemini Notebook?

Early code analysis suggests Google is actively developing new capabilities. A recently spotted menu option called the "App within the Studio" section appears to expand on existing features like infographics, mind maps, and flashcards. This new section mentions the ability to create interactive web pages, fun games, and visual dashboards or interactive tools, though the depth and complexity of these features remain unclear.

The rebranding to Gemini Notebook itself signals that Google views this tool as central to its broader AI strategy. By integrating it more tightly with Gemini, the company can leverage improvements to its underlying AI models to address current limitations. As Google continues to enhance its AI technology and expands notebook source capacity limits, features like notebook merging should become more feasible without sacrificing the grounding that prevents hallucinations.

For now, Gemini Notebook remains a powerful tool for researchers, students, and professionals who need to organize sources and generate interactive study materials. The gap between current functionality and user requests isn't a deal-breaker for most users, but closing that gap would position Gemini Notebook as an indispensable platform for knowledge work across education, business, and research sectors.