In 2025, the rapid development of AI tools has allowed a variety of language models to permeate our daily lives and businesses. In particular, Google's NotebookLM and OpenAI's ChatGPT each have their own unique characteristics and have attracted the attention of many users. This article provides a thorough explanation of the differences, technical background, and usage of each AI model, focusing on NotebookLM and ChatGPT.
Please note that this material was prepared for in-house training purposes.
We hope that by learning how AI is used in the fields of information organization, creative activities, and business support, as well as the pros and cons of each tool, it will help you choose the best AI partner for you.
1. what is NotebookLM?
1.1 Basic Overview and Features
NotebookLM is a language model-based AI notetool developed by Google and first released on July 12, 2023. The "LM" in its name means "Language Model," and "Notebook" means "notebook. In other words, it is a notebook tool using a language model.
The main feature of NotebookLM is that it interacts based on specific materials and data uploaded by the user: content in various formats such as PDFs, images, websites, and YouTube videos can be uploaded for in-depth understanding, summarization, and analysis! The NotebookLM is a powerful tool to help you to understand and analyze the content of your website.
NotebookLM also has the following features
- Multilingual support: available in more than 200 countries and regions, including Japanese
- Built-in Gemini 1.5 Pro: Advanced inference capabilities and native multimodality
- Source Transparency: Reduces "hallucination" problems by clearly indicating the source on which an answer is based
- Audio summary feature: summarizes complex documents as if they were conversational podcasts
- Extensive file format support: supports a variety of sources including text, PDFs, Google Documents, YouTube videos, etc.
1.2 Technical Background
NotebookLM is based on the Gemini series of language models developed by Google DeepMind. The latest version features Gemini 1.5 Pro, which can answer questions about images, graphs, and diagrams in slides and documents due to the model's advanced inference capabilities and native multimodality .
Gemini 1.5 Pro has ultra-long context processing capabilities (up to 1 million tokens) and is capable of multimodal processing. This allows NotebookLM to understand not just text, but also visual information such as images and charts, and to combine them for deeper analysis.
One of NotebookLM's unique technologies is its source grounding architecture. This ensures that AI answers are "grounded" in the source material uploaded by the user, increasing the reliability and transparency of the answers.
2. what is ChatGPT?
2.1 Basic Overview and Features
ChatGPT is an interactive AI language model developed by OpenAI and part of the GPT series. The latest versions include advanced models such as GPT-4.1 and GPT-4.5, which are used for a wide range of applications including natural dialogue, creative sentence generation, and programming support.
The main features of ChatGPT are as follows
- Extensive knowledge base: trained on a large amount of text data from the Internet
- Diverse task support: conversation, writing, coding, data analysis, etc.
- Multi-modal functionality: supports various input/output formats such as text, images, and audio
- Plug-in integration: Integrates with external tools and services
- Continuous Improvement: Functionality is enhanced through periodic updates.
In the latest version of ChatGPT, the GPT-4.5 model has enhanced natural and versatile dialogue and expression, enabling more fluent and human-like responses. It also performs better in creative tasks such as programming and brainstorming.
2.2 Technical Background
The technical foundation of ChatGPT is the GPT series of Large Language Models (LLMs). The latest, GPT-4.5, has trillions of parameters and is pre-trained on extensive Internet text data.
GPT-4.5 integrates not only chatbots, but also image analysis, image generation, voice input/output, code execution, web search, function calls, structured output, translation functions, mathematical calculations, text recognition in images, image editing functions, and much more.
In addition, the latest GPT-4.1 supports faster processing and longer context windows (up to 1M tokens) than before, enabling more complex and longer conversations and document processing.
3. main differences between NotebookLM and ChatGPT
3.1 Differences in Information Sources and Learning Methods
The most fundamental differences between NotebookLM and ChatGPT are in information sources and learning methods.
NotebookLM:
- Answers based only on specific source materials uploaded by the user
- Uploaded materials are not used as study data (privacy protection)
- Always cite the source of the information (the relevant section in the source material) when responding.
ChatGPT:
- Pre-trained on a wide range of data from the Internet
- May infer answers that are not in the training data (sometimes "hallucinating")
- Without plug-ins, answers from a general knowledge base without citing specific sources
This difference makes NotebookLM suitable when you need accurate answers based on the data you have, while ChatGPT is suitable when you want to respond to a wide range of questions utilizing extensive knowledge.
3.2 Differences in Supported Formats and Functions
There are differences in the input/output formats and functions supported by the two formats.
NotebookLM:
- A wide variety of sources can be imported, including PDFs, text, web pages, and YouTube videos.
- Audio Summary" function to summarize materials in a podcast format
- Optimized for summarizing, analyzing, and answering questions
- Organize and store notes and information in a notebook format
ChatGPT:
- Supports a variety of input/output formats including text, images, and audio
- Multiple functions including code execution, web search, function calls, and more
- Strengths in creative writing and brainstorming
- Can be integrated with other applications through APIs
3.3 Comparison of practical aspects
The following is a comparison of the two in terms of actual use and practicality.
NotebookLM:
- Deep understanding of materials and accurate extraction of key points
- High reliability of answers and fewer factual errors (illusions)
- Highly useful artificial visa (automatically displays reference sources)
- Strengths in corporate use of materials, including creation of dedicated chatbots
ChatGPT:
- More creative and insightful idea suggestions possible
- Can cover a wider range of topics
- More natural and fluent conversational experience
- Rich integration with existing applications
Specific comparative tests have also reported that NotebookLM excels in detailed analysis and source identification, while ChatGPT excels in brevity and creativity.
3.4 Comparison of Fee Structure
The fee structure of the two services is another important difference.
NotebookLM:
- Basic functions are available for free
- NotebookLM Plus (paid version): From $20 per user per month
- Limitations of the free version: maximum of 100 notebooks, maximum of 50 sources per notebook
- Available for enterprises via Google Workspace or Google Cloud
ChatGPT:
- Free for basic functionality (based on GPT-3.5)
- ChatGPT Plus: $20/month (GPT-4 access, priority usage rights, etc.)
- GPT-4.5/GPT-4.1 are available via ChatGPT Plus or pay-as-you-go API
3.5 UI/UX Comparison
Comparison in terms of user interface and user experience:
NotebookLM:
- Notebook-style interface makes it easy to organize information
- Automatically generates summaries and question suggestions from uploaded sources
- Notebook functionality allows users to save important answers and information they find
- Clearly identified sources of information for easy validation
ChatGPT:
- Simple chat interface is intuitive to use
- Conversation history can be saved and organized
- Smooth use with mobile apps
- Visual mode for richer expression
4. comparison with other major language models
4.1 Claude
Claude, developed by Anthropic, is another powerful language model. The latest version, Claude 3.7, is especially good at coding and processing long texts.
Claude features:
- Hybrid inference model (integrates fast response and deep thinking modes)
- Context processing capacity of up to 200,000 tokens
- Strengths in coding and heavy document analysis
- Safety-oriented design with a constitutional approach
The difference with NotebookLM is that Claude excels in general-purpose interaction, while NotebookLM is optimized for more specific material-based use.
4.2 Gemini
Google's Gemini 2.0 is a model that is also the foundation of NotebookLM.
Gemini features:
- Multimodal native design (supports text, images, audio, and video)
- Ultra-long context processing: 1 million tokens for Flash version, 2 million tokens for Pro version
- Low cost (unbeatable low cost of $0.10 per million tokens input and $0.40 per million tokens output)
- Integration with the Google ecosystem, including Google Search, YouTube, Maps, etc.
NotebookLM is a specialized version of Gemini's capabilities, optimized for document analysis and information organization.
4.3 Perplexity
Perplexity is an AI service specialized in search capabilities.
Perplexity features:
- Real-time information retrieval and citation
- Fusion of search engine and chatbot
- Provides links to citation sources
- Various models (GPT-4o, Claude 3.5, etc.) can be selected
The difference is that Perplexity is strong in information retrieval, while NotebookLM is strong in deep analysis of materials. Some say that a synergistic effect can be expected by combining both.
5. usage scenarios and use cases
5.1 Suitable Usage Scenes for NotebookLM
NotebookLM is particularly powerful in the following situations:
-
Research and paper writing:
- Importing multiple articles and documents for summarization and comparative analysis
- Discovering and organizing relationships among related documents
-
Learning and teaching:
- Organizing key points from textbooks and reference books
- Creating problem sets from class materials
- Creating custom learning materials
-
Business Document Processing:
- Analyze and extract key points from contracts and legal documents
- Extract key points from meeting minutes and reports
- Build internal knowledge base
-
Organizing specialized information:
- Summarizing medical guidelines and technical manuals
- Extracting and organizing knowledge from specialized books
- Analyzing investment documents and organizing key points
5.2 Suitable usage scenarios for ChatGPT
ChatGPT is particularly effective in the following situations
-
Creative work:
- Copywriting and content creation
- Story idea generation
- Brainstorming and ideation support
-
Programming support:
- Code generation and debugging
- Programming learning
- Algorithm design
-
Communication assistance:
- Proofreading of emails and documents
- Multilingual translation and cross-cultural communication
- Conversation practice and language learning
-
General-purpose information retrieval:
- Question and answer on a wide range of topics
- Quick reference for general knowledge
- News and current affairs commentary
5.3 Possibilities for Combined Use
Combination use that takes advantage of the strengths of both is also effective:
- From information gathering to organizing: Collect information widely with Perplexity, and organize and analyze it with NotebookLM.
- From idea generation to materialization: generate creative ideas with ChatGPT and organize related materials with NotebookLM
- Learning process: understand the big picture with ChatGPT, and deeply analyze important texts with NotebookLM
- Document creation process: draft with ChatGPT, cite and fact-check with NotebookLM
6. future prospects and challenges
6.1 Future Prospects for NotebookLM
NotebookLM is expected to develop in the following directions
- More seamless material linkage: linkage to an even wider variety of file formats and platforms
- Enhanced analytical capabilities: more accurate analysis of relationships and insight extraction across multiple documents
- Improved customizability: custom functions for specific fields and industries
- Enhanced collaboration capabilities: more efficient collaborative team editing and knowledge sharing
- Device-to-device integration: Enhanced synchronization with mobile apps
On the other hand, the following challenges have been identified
- Possibility that the model itself has limited capabilities as a free service
- Room for improvement regarding the provision of creative suggestions and new perspectives
6.2 Direction of ChatGPT's evolution
ChatGPT is expected to develop in the following ways
- Increased multimodal capabilities: more sophisticated image and voice processing capabilities
- Deepening expertise: increased specialization in specific areas
- Enhanced access to real-time information: faster reflection of the latest information
- Increased autonomy as an AI agent: automatic execution of more complex tasks
- Evolution of custom GPTs: Providing more specialized application-specific models
6.3 Evolutionary Trends of AI Note Tools
The following trends are expected for AI note tools as a whole
-
Evolution as a thinking partner:
- From a mere information tool to an intellectual assistant that supports the creative process
- Enhanced ability to complement users' thinking and provide new perspectives
-
Increased transparency and reliability:
- Increased clarity and verifiability of sources of information.
- Reduced "hallucination" problems and improved accuracy
-
Evolution of multimodal integration:
- Deeper understanding across text, images, audio, and video
- Improved analysis capabilities integrating different forms of information
-
Customization and personalization:
- AI that adapts to the user's work style and domain of expertise
- Evolution as extended intelligence linked to personal knowledge base
7. selection criteria and recommended combinations
7.1 Selection criteria tailored to your needs
Consider the following points to choose the right tool for you:
-
Primary purpose of use:
- In-depth understanding and analysis of specific materials → NotebookLM
- Broad questioning and creative tasks → ChatGPT
- Specialized coding and long-form processing → Claude
- Multimodal processing and very long sentences → Gemini
- Real-time information retrieval → Perplexity
-
Features to focus on:
- Accuracy of source citations → NotebookLM
- Creativity and variety of answers → ChatGPT
- Code generation and debugging → Claude/ChatGPT
- Integrated understanding of multiple documents → NotebookLM/Claude
-
Budget and Cost:
- Free or low-cost basic functionality → NotebookLM Free Version/ChatGPT Free Version
- Can invest in advanced features → ChatGPT Plus/NotebookLM Plus/Claude
7.2 Recommended combination patterns
The following combinations are particularly effective
-
For researchers and scholars:
- NotebookLM + Claude: For in-depth analysis of documents and specialized literature
-
For creators:
- ChatGPT + NotebookLM: for a combination of idea generation and research
-
For business professionals:
- ChatGPT + Perplexity + NotebookLM for extensive information gathering, organization, and analysis
-
For developers:
- Claude + ChatGPT + Gemini: The best combination of coding and documentation
8. summary
NotebookLM and ChatGPT are powerful AI tools with their own specialized features and applications.
NotebookLM excels at deep understanding of user-provided materials and accurate information extraction and analysis. Based on Gemini technology, it also has multimodal processing capabilities.
ChatGPT excels at generating creative ideas from a broad knowledge base and is versatile enough to handle a wide variety of tasks. It is well suited for more creative tasks such as writing, programming, and brainstorming.
Ideally, these tools should be used in different situations and for different purposes, so that the strengths of each can be leveraged for effective AI utilization. Both will continue to evolve and provide even more powerful support for our intellectual activities.
We live in an age in which the selection and use of appropriate AI tools can make a significant contribution not only to the productivity of individuals, but also to the knowledge management and creativity of entire organizations. Find an AI partner that meets your needs and use it effectively.