Don't make this mistake: treating Google's NotebookLM as your brain's external hard drive! While it's tempting to use this AI-powered tool for everything, forcing it into the role of a personal knowledge management (PKM) system is a recipe for frustration. But here's where it gets controversial... is it really that bad? Let's dive in.
First, let's acknowledge the author behind this perspective. Mahnoor, a seasoned news writer at XDA, has been immersed in the tech world since her high school days. Currently pursuing a Computer Science degree, she's contributed to respected publications like MakeUseOf, SlashGear, Laptop Mag, and Android Police, demonstrating her passion for technology, particularly iOS and macOS.
Google markets NotebookLM as an "AI-powered research partner," and Mahnoor agrees it's surprisingly versatile. From acing college exams to mastering new programming languages (as demonstrated in this XDA article: [https://www.xda-developers.com/used-notebooklm-to-learn-programming-language/]) or even perfecting your coffee brewing technique (documented here: [https://www.xda-developers.com/notebooklm-how-to-brew-coffee-taste-test/]), its applications seem endless. All these diverse uses fall under the broad category of research.
However, and this is the central argument, versatility doesn't equal suitability for personal knowledge management. Just because you can use a hammer to tighten a screw doesn't mean you should. It's time to rethink how we're using (or misusing) NotebookLM.
So, what exactly is a PKM system anyway? Let's break it down for the beginners out there.
A PKM, or Personal Knowledge Management, system is more than just a digital filing cabinet. It's a carefully designed process for capturing, organizing, tracking, and retrieving information. It's not about hoarding data; it's about transforming raw information into actionable knowledge that you can build upon and easily access when needed. Think of it as your personal Wikipedia.
Dedicated PKM tools, like Notion and Obsidian (you've almost certainly heard of these), come equipped with features specifically designed to support long-term knowledge management. While each tool offers a unique workflow, they all share the common goal of helping you build a lasting and evolving knowledge base. These tools are designed to connect disparate thoughts and ideas over time, forming a web of knowledge that mirrors the way our brains actually work.
And this is the part most people miss... NotebookLM, despite its AI prowess, struggles to truly tie together disparate ideas in a meaningful way.
Mind maps don't make a brain.
Some users, including a few of Mahnoor's colleagues (as highlighted in this XDA article: [https://www.xda-developers.com/replace-pkm-stack-with-notebooklm/]), have even replaced tools like Notion with NotebookLM. Inspired by this, Mahnoor decided to test whether NotebookLM could truly replace a dedicated PKM. After a few days, she uncovered significant limitations. The most glaring issue? NotebookLM's inability to connect ideas across different notes effectively.
NotebookLM boasts impressive features like Mind Maps, designed to identify links and connections within your sources. The ability to query sources and receive grounded answers is also incredibly helpful for uncovering connections you might otherwise miss. However, these features only function effectively when all relevant information is uploaded as a unified source set within a single notebook.
Here's the crucial difference: NotebookLM's connections are internal and linear, limited to the documents you've uploaded. The AI analyzes the relationships within those documents. Consider Obsidian's Graph View (explained in detail here: [https://www.xda-developers.com/how-to-visualize-your-notes-in-obsidian-with-graph-view/]), often compared to NotebookLM's Mind Maps. Obsidian creates a dynamic map of all your notes and their interconnections, allowing ideas to link across projects, topics, and time. NotebookLM's Mind Maps, on the other hand, are confined to the specific documents you've currently uploaded. It is a picture of what is in the uploaded document, not a living, breathing map of your brain.
NotebookLM is entirely dependent on uploaded sources. You can't do anything without them. Its connection-making capabilities stop precisely where your documents end. This is excellent for focused work within specific sources, but it's restrictive when you want your notes, ideas, and research to interact and evolve over time. Think of it as trying to build a house with only the blueprints, and no actual bricks or mortar.
NotebookLM doesn't offer any note-taking features. Not actually a notebook, huh?
Mahnoor has emphasized this point before: NotebookLM is not a note-taking app (as previously argued here: [https://www.xda-developers.com/please-stop-using-notebooklm-as-a-note-taking-app/]). Despite the name, its features don't align with the core functions of a true note-taking system.
The only feature resembling traditional note-taking is the ability to create notes within notebooks. However, this is best used for capturing observations while analyzing sources, rather than for building, organizing, and connecting your own evolving ideas over time. It's more like jotting down annotations in the margins of a book than creating a comprehensive personal library.
Given NotebookLM's lack of organizational features, there's no way to structure, categorize, or meaningfully link your notes, making it nearly impossible to use as a true PKM system. You can't even tag notes, or create custom views of all notes across different notebooks.
To access notes within NotebookLM notebooks, you must locate them within their specific notebook. There's no overview of all your notes across notebooks or a way to visualize their relationships. This lack of interconnectedness severely limits its potential as a long-term knowledge management tool.
With NotebookLM, future-proofing your knowledge is difficult. Good luck taking it with you.
Another significant concern is that your knowledge is essentially locked within NotebookLM's ecosystem. With Obsidian, for example, your files are stored locally in Markdown, a universal format. This allows for easy backups and opening in other editors, giving you complete control and ensuring long-term accessibility. Your knowledge is secure and portable. You own it.
Even if Obsidian were to disappear tomorrow, you'd still have all your notes in a universal format. In contrast, with NotebookLM, your content is tied to the platform and could be lost or become inaccessible if the service changes or shuts down. This is a risk you need to consider.
The best you can do to future-proof NotebookLM content is manually copy or export generated chats. Browser extensions like NotebookLM to PDF (available here: [https://www.xda-developers.com/notebooklm-to-pdf-chrome-extension/]) offer some assistance. However, there's no single, one-click solution to export everything or preserve your entire knowledge base in an open, future-proof format.
You're better off using NotebookLM alongside a real PKM, not in place of one.
Ultimately, the most effective approach is to integrate NotebookLM with a PKM system designed for long-term organization and growth. Let NotebookLM excel at what it does best – analyzing and summarizing large amounts of information. This way, you can leverage its strengths without sacrificing the structure, flexibility, and long-term reliability that a true PKM system provides. Don't force it to be something it's not.
So, what are your thoughts? Do you agree that NotebookLM falls short as a PKM system? Or have you found creative ways to overcome its limitations? Share your experiences and opinions in the comments below! What PKM system do you use?
