Summarizing Text, Audio & Video (2025 Edition)

NotebookLM source summary view

In this module, you’ll use NotebookLM to transform your uploaded documents, meeting transcripts, and even videos into audience-ready summaries—and then refine, translate, and output those summaries in multiple formats.

Important: AI tools can still miss nuances—even when grounded in your sources. Treat output as a highly capable assistant, not an autopilot. Always verify critical facts and quotes.

If you need help at any time, please ask the instructor.

Learning goals

By the end of this activity, you will be able to:

  • Generate short and long source-grounded summaries for text, audio, and video.
  • Adapt summaries for different audiences and purposes (beginner vs expert, student vs supervisor, parent vs colleague).
  • Turn one or more sources into a study guide, FAQ, or outline using NotebookLM.
  • Use citations and source previews to verify and correct NotebookLM’s summaries.

1) Getting Started: Upload Your Sources

  1. Create a new notebook in NotebookLM: from the dashboard, click Create.
  2. Upload the sample sources for this module:
  3. Confirm that each document appears under the Sources panel on the left.
  4. Click the first document → read the auto-generated source summary and skim the original document.
  5. Check that the text is legible (no garbled OCR). If a document is mostly images without selectable text, upload a text-based or OCR’d version if possible.

Pro tip:
Mix formats in one notebook (PDF + webpage + slides). Later, you can ask NotebookLM to summarize or compare across formats as long as the sources are text-readable.

2) Summarize With Purpose (Audience • Tone • Length)

Avoid generic prompts like “summarize this.” You’ll get vague, forgettable output. Instead, anchor the summary in a real scenario.

Scenario: You’re preparing promotional copy for parents about the University Makerspace / Library Digital Scholarship Commons.

  1. In the Sources panel, de-select Documents 2 and 3 so that only Document 1 is active.
  2. In Chat, ask something like:

```text Create a 180–220 word summary for parents explaining how the University Makerspace (Library Digital Scholarship Commons) helps with co-op job searches and post-graduation employment.

Use plain language, include three concrete benefits supported by evidence from Document 1, and include inline citations.