Google to preinstall NotebookLM AI on Chromebooks to boost adoption

Google’s NotebookLM AI note-taking application is expanding its reach through direct integration with Chromebooks, making this powerful research and analysis tool more accessible to students and knowledge workers. The decision to preinstall NotebookLM on Chrome OS devices represents Google’s strategy to increase adoption of its Gemini-powered productivity tools by placing them directly in users’ workflows, potentially transforming how people interact with and process large volumes of information.

The big picture: Google plans to preinstall its AI-powered NotebookLM application on Chromebooks, as evidenced by a recent code change submitted to the Chromium Gerrit.

• The code change specifically adds NotebookLM to the list of preinstalled web apps in Chrome OS, making the tool immediately available to Chromebook users without manual installation.
• This integration aims to increase visibility and adoption of one of Google’s most praised Gemini-powered products among education and productivity-focused Chromebook users.

Why this matters: NotebookLM represents one of Google’s most practical applications of its Gemini AI model, designed to help users process and understand large amounts of information.

• The tool uses AI to summarize, analyze, and answer questions about documents, articles, videos, and audio content—capabilities particularly valuable for students, researchers, and information workers.
• By preinstalling NotebookLM on Chromebooks, Google is addressing the awareness gap, as many potential users who could benefit from the service don’t know it exists.

Behind the decision: Google’s strategy focuses on increasing NotebookLM’s visibility by placing it directly in the Chromebook app drawer rather than requiring users to discover it independently.

• While NotebookLM has been accessible via web browser at notebooklm.google.com, this integration removes friction in the discovery and adoption process.
• The move positions NotebookLM as a core productivity tool within the Chrome OS ecosystem, potentially making it a differentiating feature for Chromebook devices.

How to install now: Users who want to access NotebookLM before it’s preinstalled can add it as a web app through Google Chrome.

• The process requires opening Chrome with the appropriate Google profile, navigating to notebooklm.google.com, and clicking the install icon in the address bar.
• After installation, the app opens in a separate window and can be pinned to the taskbar or added to the desktop for easier access.