NotebookLM adds cloud code execution and upgrades to Gemini 3.5

Google rolled out updates to NotebookLM this week, switching the AI note-taking app to Gemini 3.5 and adding a cloud computer environment for code execution. The upgrade is designed to deliver more accurate responses when users interact with uploaded sources, according to a Monday blog post. NotebookLM, launched in 2023, lets users upload documents, PDFs, and notes, then query them conversationally using AI. The Gemini 3.5 integration marks the first major model swap since the app's debut on Gemini Pro. Google says the new model improves source comprehension and reduces hallucination rates when summarizing or answering questions about user-uploaded material, though the company did not publish benchmark comparisons or error-rate figures.

The cloud computer addition is the more operationally significant change. Users can now run Python code, generate charts, and perform data analysis on spreadsheets or structured documents without leaving the NotebookLM interface—a capability that positions NotebookLM closer to code-interpreter tools like ChatGPT's Advanced Data Analysis mode or Claude's Artifacts. Google has not disclosed whether the compute environment is sandboxed or what resource limits apply per session. The update also improves NotebookLM's ability to suggest related sources and surface gaps in a user's research. Both the cloud computer feature and Gemini 3.5 model are available immediately to all NotebookLM users at no additional cost.