Another Crazy Day in AI: Why This Google Tool Beats Every Other Study App
- Wowza Team
- 1 day ago
- 4 min read
Updated: 10 hours ago
Hello, AI Enthusiasts.
Trying to wrap your head around the day or just your notes?
One writer swears NotebookLM quietly became his favorite research partner, no fluff, just a smarter way to tame messy notes and stay focused. Bonus: it won’t look things up for you, just makes sense of what you’ve already got.
Over in the courts, AI training just scored a big win in court. A judge says training models on books is “transformative.”
And speaking of repurposing: Chromebooks now come with a side of Gemini. The promise? More power, less clutter, and on-device AI that just gets it.
Add that to your mental bookmarks and carry on.
Here's another crazy day in AI:
NotebookLM from a daily user's perspective
Judge rules in favor of Anthropic
Meta and Oakley launch AI glasses
Some AI tools to try out
TODAY'S FEATURED ITEM: The AI That Changed One Writer's Research Game
Image Credit: Wowza (created with Ideogram; edited with Canva)
How do you move an entire organization forward when the technology is moving faster than the people using it?
CNET writer Blake Stimac recently detailed his experience with Google’s NotebookLM, a research assistant that has earned a permanent spot in his workflow. What makes this tool different from the usual AI offerings is its deliberate limitation: it only works with sources you specifically provide, rather than pulling information from across the web. This Gemini-powered approach creates what Stimac calls a more trustworthy research environment, especially useful for students and professionals who need to work with specific materials.
Core features and capabilities:
Audio Overview creation generates podcast-style conversations where two AI voices discuss your uploaded materials, with customizable length options
Interactive discussion mode allows you to join these AI conversations mid-stream to ask questions or contribute insights
Mind mapping tools convert complex documents into visual, clickable diagrams that organize information hierarchically
Automated study materials produce quizzes, essay questions, glossaries, timelines, and summary documents from your sources
Cross-platform access available on desktop and mobile devices with consistent three-panel interface design
Content transformation processes rough notes and fragmented thoughts into structured, coherent summaries
Upcoming video capabilities with Video Overviews announced for future release alongside improved sharing features
Flexible pricing offers substantial functionality at no cost with premium options for advanced collaboration needs
Stimac's most compelling demonstration involved using the tool during an actual work meeting. He fed his hurried, incomplete notes into NotebookLM and received a summary that matched the quality of the official press release distributed the following day. This real-world application shows how the tool might help bridge the gap between initial information capture and final understanding, though results will naturally vary based on source quality and complexity.
The strength of NotebookLM appears to rest in its focused approach to information processing. Rather than attempting to handle every conceivable task, it concentrates on helping users extract meaning from their existing materials. The Audio Overview feature represents perhaps the most interesting innovation—two AI voices engage in natural conversation about your content, often asking each other clarifying questions that mirror how humans might discuss complex topics. The ability to interrupt and participate in these discussions creates a more dynamic relationship with your research materials than traditional reading or note-taking allows.
The tool's practical value depends on your current research challenges and preferred learning methods. Users who already have effective systems for organizing and synthesizing information might find the benefits marginal, while those who struggle with information overload or learn better through audio processing could discover meaningful improvements in their workflow. The quality of outputs also correlates directly with the materials you provide—comprehensive, well-organized sources will naturally yield more useful results than fragmented or poor-quality inputs. NotebookLM seems most valuable for people who recognize gaps in their current research processes and are willing to experiment with different approaches to information organization and comprehension.
OTHER INTERESTING AI HIGHLIGHTS:
Judge Rules in Favor of Anthropic
/Ashley Capoot, Reporter, on CNBC
A U.S. federal judge has ruled that Anthropic’s use of copyrighted books to train its AI model Claude qualifies as “fair use” and is “quintessentially transformative.” The court determined that Claude doesn’t reproduce the creative elements or identifiable styles of the authors' works, marking a legal win for AI developers. While this decision supports the legality of training LLMs on published works, a trial is still set to examine Anthropic’s earlier use of pirated books. The outcome could help define how copyright laws apply to the development of generative AI.
Read more here.
Meta and Oakley Launch AI Glasses
/John Maletis, ChromeOS Vice President, on Google Blogs – The Keyword
Google has unveiled the Lenovo Chromebook Plus 14, its most powerful Chromebook yet, complete with an AI-focused MediaTek chip, long battery life, and premium hardware. It also introduces new AI features like smart tab grouping, image editing, and tools for simplified reading and text extraction — all processed on-device. Across all Chromebook Plus models, AI now powers features like quick image generation, searchable screenshots, and direct text capture from images. With these additions, ChromeOS aims to make multitasking smoother, while keeping AI help seamlessly integrated.
Read more here.
SOME AI TOOLS TO TRY OUT:
That’s a wrap on today’s Almost Daily craziness.
Catch us almost every day—almost! 😉
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