Google's AI information gathering tool 'NotebookLM' has an improved 'Video Summary' feature that compiles notes into videos

Google's 'NotebookLM' is an AI tool that can read information from the internet and perform summaries, and in July 2025, it introduced a 'Video Outline' that compiles the contents of a notebook into a video. The video function of NotebookLM has been updated to enable the generation of ' Cinematic Video Outlines, ' which can create movie-like videos in addition to simple slideshows and narration.

NotebookLM adds Cinematic Video Overviews
https://blog.google/innovation-and-ai/products/notebooklm/generate-your-own-cinematic-video-overviews-in-notebooklm/

NotebookLM is a tool that allows you to compile the parts of YouTube videos you want to know into text or audio, import PDF files and organize the information, and even ask questions via chat to get answers to the information you want to know. You can learn how to use NotebookLM by reading the article below.

How to quickly summarize long YouTube videos with Google's free AI notebook 'NotebookLM' to make them understandable in a short time & how to generate audio podcasts that you can listen to while doing other things - GIGAZINE

There is also a video summary feature that explains the contents of the notebook you have compiled in a video. You can see an example of how to use the video summary in the following article.

Google's NotebookLM's 'Video Summary' feature, which compiles videos with audio, now supports 80 new languages, including Japanese - GIGAZINE

Google announced a major update to its video summary feature on March 4, 2026. While the previous video summary only generated a slideshow with narration, the new 'cinematic video summary' will create unique, immersive videos based on the content you load.

The official NotebookLM X account posts videos generated with Cinematic Video Overview.

What better way to explain the launch of our new Cinematic Video Overviews than… using… a Cinematic Video Overview?

(video-ception 😵) pic.twitter.com/A38GBugjYN

— NotebookLM (@NotebookLM) March 4, 2026

Regarding the cinematic video outline, NotebookLM explains, 'By having Geimini act as director, Gemini will choose the best format, whether it's a tutorial or a documentary, and determine the visual style and footage.'

Here's the secret behind Cinematic Video Overviews:

We put Gemini in the director's chair.

This means that Gemini the best format (tutorial vs. documentary etc), visual style, and visual capabilities decides to tell the story of your sources. It then critiques its own footage,… pic.twitter.com/JauJUdbAe3

— NotebookLM (@NotebookLM) March 5, 2026

Cinematic video summaries have been available in English for users of Google AI Ultra, the highest-level Google AI subscription plan , since March 4, 2026. Availability to other users and support for other languages, including Japanese, have not been announced at the time of writing.