NotebookLM, Google’s research assistant tool, is progressing with a notable update to its video overviews feature, reflecting Google’s broader strategy to integrate creative, media-rich outputs into their AI-driven productivity tools. Currently, users have access to a single video overview format, “Explainer”, which delivers a structured summary connecting different information sources within a project. The recent addition of a format selector menu in early builds strongly suggests that multiple formats are coming, similar to the direction taken with audio overviews, where users can now pick between styles to match their preferences or use case.
The expansion doesn’t stop at formats. Google is also introducing new visual styles for video overviews, moving away from the single, classic template currently in use. Leaked style options include:
- Whiteboard
- Watercolour
- Risographic
- Heritage
- Papercraft
- Anime
Some of these styles offer detailed and colorful visuals far beyond the present standard. This aligns with Google’s increased focus on personalization and creativity across its AI tools and could make NotebookLM video summaries more appealing to a wider group of users, from educators and marketers to researchers looking for shareable media content.
These updates may also signal backend improvements, possibly linked to a Nano Banana model upgrade or the anticipated Veo 3.1 release, aiming for richer, higher-quality output. While no official timeline is given, these features could be unveiled soon, possibly aligning with Google’s broader wave of product launches expected next week. The addition of an auto-select function, intended to intelligently pick the best visual style for a given summary, would further lower barriers for users and help scale adoption within educational and collaborative environments. The overall direction strengthens NotebookLM’s position in Google’s product lineup, turning it into a more versatile knowledge management platform suitable for both individual and team workflows.
