Nov 12, 2025

Whether you're studying for finals or learning a new language, NotebookLM's flashcard feature can help - with a few drawbacks. Google/ZDNET They can help with studying or learning a new language. You can't edit cards once NotebookLM generates them. Google's NotebookLM is one of our favorite AI tools for productivity, and it just got several upgrades just in time for finals season. Users can now create flashcards and quizzes with the NotebookLM app, which also now has a four-fold larger context window and six-fold longer conversation memory. How it works According to Google , the most significant update to NotebookLM this week is the addition of flashcards and quizzes to further your learning on the go. Google says the new feature can help users memorize key terms, dates, and concepts by pulling from their uploaded sources. Users can use flashcards to test their knowledge and challenge themselves with quizzes, as well as customize topics, difficulty, and the number of cards within the flashcard deck. They can temporarily add or remove sources within NotebookLM while using the chat or Studio tabs, ensuring responses are based on relevant sources. NotebookLM's chat improvements allow users to customize chat to achieve a specific goal or adopt a unique voice or role. For example, users can direct chat to act as a scrutinizing professor or analyze their provided sources from multiple perspectives. Still, AI tools often hallucinate, especially when using them for schoolwork. Be sure to verify any claims or examples NotebookLM and similar products make before incorporating them further into an assignment or study prep. Try it for yourself To create flashcards in NotebookLM, ensure your app is up to date with the latest version. Then, upload your PDF, audio, website, YouTube video, or copied text source. Then, click the "Studio" tab and generate a new set of flashcards. NotebookLM's free tier allows for 10 sets of flashcards daily. I uploaded a YouTube video titled "Top French Phrases for Travel You Need to Know" by The Intrepid Guide. NotebookLM created a deck of 30 flashcards with questions like, "How do you say 'thank you very much' in French?" and "What is the French question for 'how much does it cost?'" Whether you're studying for a final exam or learning a new language for travel, NotebookLM's flashcards can come in handy. Longer YouTube videos generate more flashcards, and my 12-minute example generated 30. One of the drawbacks is that you can't edit the flashcards. So, if you don't understand a flashcard's question and need it to be reworded, you'll have to find another study tool. Screenshot by Jada Jones/ZDNET If you upload a YouTube video, NotebookLM can only import the video's transcript. Users can only upload public videos, and recently uploaded videos may not be available. If you choose to upload a website's URL, NotebookLM does not support paid articles; only the visible text on the website can be imported. Another option Quizlet allows you to edit your flashcards by uploading notes, files, or materials from Google Drive. Quizlet also offers more study modes and flashcard customization options than NotebookLM, but requires a $36 annual subscription to access all its features. Otherwise, NotebookLM's flashcards feature was straightforward and easy to use. It's very basic, and I wouldn't recommend using its flashcards feature as your main study tool if you're currently in school. However, if you have a straightforward test to take at work or want to learn more about a low-stakes topic, like foreign language phrases to use while traveling, NotebookLM is a solid tool to try. Featured