According to Digital Trends, Google is updating the NotebookLM apps for Android and iOS with two key features that originally launched on web in September. The mobile apps are getting flashcards and quizzes to help users memorize concepts and test knowledge on the go. The update also includes chat improvements announced late last month that offer 50% better quality, a four-times larger context window, and six-times longer conversation memory. Additionally, users can now temporarily select and unselect sources to tailor responses. These changes roll out over the coming days, with flashcards and quizzes appearing in the Studio tab with customization options for topic, card count, difficulty, and language.
NotebookLM gets serious about mobile
This update basically turns NotebookLM from a passive research tool into an active learning companion. And that’s a pretty smart move. Think about it – how many times have you saved interesting research only to forget most of it later? The flashcard and quiz features attack that exact problem by forcing engagement with the material. It’s like having a study buddy in your pocket that actually remembers what you’ve been talking about.
Chat gets way smarter
Here’s the thing about AI assistants – they’re only useful if they remember the conversation. The six-times longer conversation memory and four-times larger context window are game-changers. No more having to re-explain what you were just discussing five messages ago. And that 50% quality improvement? That’s the kind of number that makes you wonder what was wrong with the previous version, but hey, progress is progress.
Source control is key
The ability to temporarily select and unselect sources might seem like a small feature, but it’s actually huge for research workflows. Anyone who’s used these tools knows the frustration of getting responses based on irrelevant documents. Now you can basically tell NotebookLM “ignore that PDF for now” without having to remove it entirely from your notebook. It’s the kind of thoughtful feature that shows Google is actually paying attention to how people use this thing in real life.
Where this fits in the AI landscape
So where does this leave NotebookLM in the crowded AI assistant space? Well, it’s carving out a pretty specific niche as the research and study-focused option. While ChatGPT and Claude are trying to be everything to everyone, NotebookLM is doubling down on being the smartest tool for people working with documents and needing to actually retain information. The latest updates make it clear they’re not just competing on raw intelligence – they’re competing on practical utility for specific use cases. And honestly, that might be the smarter play long-term.
