Though Google advertises NotebookLM as an AI-powered personalized research assistant, I don't use it purely for studying and working. Lately, I've been trying to find more and more fun ways to use it once I'm done with my work and studying for the day.

After all, if a tool is packed with features that have already changed how I approach research, why not see how it can make downtime a little more entertaining too? So, here are four ways I’ve been using NotebookLM just for fun.

4 Using it to watch a show

Not as crazy as it sounds

I know, I know. Using an AI tool to watch a show might sound a little over the top, but just hear me out. Between work and college, finding the time to binge-watch a show with multiple episodes and seasons just to understand a funny meme my friend sent me is basically impossible. And even if I do manage to make some time, I have the memory of a goldfish and tend to forget a show quicker than I watched it.

So, a couple of weeks ago, I decided to try using NotebookLM to watch a show — not one that’s been on my to-watch list, but one I couldn’t get into and wanted to watch just for the sake of understanding the context behind memes my friends share. When I first tried this experiment, I used NotebookLM to watch The Queen's Gambit. Unfortunately, though you can't upload entire episodes, you can upload summaries, scripts, or notes from the show.

So, that's exactly what I did. I uploaded episode-by-episode summaries, character breakdowns, key plot points, and more. Since NotebookLM can accept YouTube videos as sources, I even threw in some video recaps, just to ensure it had enough context to give me accurate summaries. At least enough to make me feel like I’d watched the show…even though, technically, I hadn’t. I then prompted NotebookLM with different questions, starting off with:

Imagine I’m using you as a substitute for actually watching The Queen’s Gambit. I want to fully understand the show’s plot, tone, character growth, and major turning points, as if I just binge-watched it. Walk me through everything I need to know, like you’re my nerdy friend who just finished the series and is telling me all about it.

Once I felt like I had a good base of what the show was about, I generated an Audio Overview and Video Overview, which helped me understand the show even better. After a lot of back-and-forth with NotebookLM asking random questions that came to mind about the plot, I generated a Mind Map of the entire notebook, just to see the whole show at a glance.

To be very clear, I'd never do this with a show I've actually been invested in or planned to binge-watch. But I think it's an awesome way to quickly catch up with a show for context, and it works surprisingly well.

3 Using NotebookLM to read a book

It works even for the hardest reads

Similar to using NotebookLM to "watch" a show, I also gave using it to read a book a shot a couple of weeks ago, and I've done it numerous times since then. I've been reading a lot lately, but there are some books I just can't get into, no matter how hard I try. I've always been the kind of person who feels a pang of guilt when I need to move a book to my Did Not Finish (DNF) pile. Sometimes, the books have incredible plots, and I really want to enjoy them, but I just can’t seem to stay engaged. Here's where NotebookLM helps me out tremendously.

And unlike using it to watch a show, you don't have to upload tons of sources. Since most books you'd want to read are available as PDFs or EPUBs, you can simply convert them into a compatible format and directly drop them into NotebookLM. From there, it can summarize chapters, track character development, highlight key themes, and even answer questions about the story. You can also listen to a summarized podcast-style discussion of the book in an Audio Overview format, which I personally love.

The Mind Map feature really comes in clutch for this particular use case too, since books tend to have very complex plots, multiple characters, and interwoven themes. Like I mentioned in the section above, I'd never do this for a book I'm genuinely invested in or excited to read, but for books that feel like a slog, it’s a surprisingly effective way to get the full experience.

2 To explore and pick up new hobbies

Your shortcut to trying something new

I'm a full-time student and work more or less full-time nowadays, which means learning new hobbies isn't always at the top of my priority list. Between classes, assignments, and work deadlines, finding the time (or even the energy) to dive into something new can feel impossible. What makes it even more difficult is how scattered information tends to be online. Since I'm majoring in computer science, say I want to learn how to code fun Chrome extensions.

Typically, I'd need to hunt through a dozen different tutorials, forums, and YouTube videos, and then piece everything together. With NotebookLM, though, I can simply drop all of these sources into a new notebook and ask the AI to do all the heavy lifting for me. Since it's source-grounded, I can rest easy knowing it'll only pick up information from the sources I've provided, and from nowhere else. Given that it's AI-powered, it can also surface connections I'd have never made myself, which makes the process a lot simpler. As I learn, I can ask any follow-up questions I may have about the content. I've used NotebookLM to learn a programming language from scratch before, and it worked flawlessly!

This doesn't only apply to this particular hobby I mentioned. For instance, if I want to learn how to cook a new cuisine, pick up photography, or even start digital illustration, I can gather guides, tutorials, and example projects in one place. NotebookLM then helps me organize the information, highlight key techniques, and answer any questions that come up along the way.

1 To summarize friend group chats

Keep up without scrolling forever

When my entire friend group chat is active and in the zone, the only way to describe all of us is pure chaos. Unfortunately, there’ve been times when I’m in calls or classes and the chat blows up, and by the time I check back, I’m completely lost. Sometimes, I ask my friends for a TL;DR, but even then, things get messy and details slip through the cracks. Thankfully, NotebookLM’s always got my back.

With the tool, I can simply upload the entire chat history (unless it contains confidential information, which I wouldn’t want to share with an AI) and have it generate a clear summary, highlight recurring jokes, and track running themes or inside jokes over time. When I do this, I often generate an Audio Overview and switch to Interactive mode, so I can ask any questions that pop into my mind while catching up. It’s a quick and easy way to stay in the loop without feeling overwhelmed or pressured to read the entire conversation, especially when the message count has already exceeded hundreds.

You're missing out if you aren't using NotebookLM for a bit of fun too

The above are just a few of the ways I've been using NotebookLM to have some fun. A few colleagues of mine have used it to plot their entire novel, come up with quirky story ideas, and even learn how to brew coffee (which I need to try myself soon).