Quick Answer
Google renamed NotebookLM to Gemini Notebook on July 16, 2026. It is still a standalone research product; this is a brand migration plus a capability expansion, not a shutdown or a move entirely inside the Gemini app.
The most important new capability is a secure cloud computer that can write and execute code inside a notebook for source-grounded analysis. At announcement time, this was available to Google AI Ultra users and eligible Workspace business customers, with a Pro web rollout planned over the following weeks. Access therefore depends on the account and rollout—not only the new product name.
NotebookLM vs Gemini Notebook at a Glance
| Question | Source-backed answer |
|---|---|
| Is NotebookLM gone? | No. Google says the same standalone product is now named Gemini Notebook. |
| What happens to existing notebooks? | Google describes cross-app access and syncing, not a required migration to a new product. Check your account before assuming every workspace has finished updating. |
| What is the secure cloud computer? | A notebook-scoped environment that lets Gemini Notebook write and execute code for analysis grounded in your sources. |
| Who had code execution at launch? | Google AI Ultra users and eligible Workspace business customers with named AI access add-ons. |
| Is it available to Pro? | Google said the web rollout would reach all Pro users over the following weeks. Verify the live account because rollout timing is dynamic. |
| Is it inside Gemini and Search? | Notebook creation and access already sync with the Gemini app; Google said AI Mode in Search integration was coming soon. |
What the Rename Means
The old name still matters because people, links, and documentation will continue to use “NotebookLM.” A useful migration mental model is:
- NotebookLM is the legacy brand.
- Gemini Notebook is the current brand.
- The standalone research product continues.
- The product now connects more deeply with Gemini and, later, Search.
This distinction prevents two common mistakes: telling users that NotebookLM was discontinued, or implying that every notebook now lives only inside the Gemini app.
What the Secure Cloud Computer Can Do
Google says each enabled notebook receives a secure cloud computer. The environment lets Gemini Notebook write and execute code natively, including analysis grounded in the sources attached to the notebook.
That can support workflows such as:
- cleaning and transforming a table from uploaded research;
- calculating statistics from source data;
- checking a formula or producing a reproducible intermediate result;
- generating new analysis formats from notebook evidence.
The announcement does not establish unrestricted server access, arbitrary internet access, universal package support, or identical compute limits for every plan. Treat the notebook’s visible controls and current Google documentation as the authority for the exact environment.
Who Can Use Code Execution?
As of Google’s July 16 announcement:
- Google AI Ultra users had access.
- Workspace business customers with AI Ultra Access or AI Expanded Access had access.
- Pro users on the web were scheduled to receive it over the following weeks.
Because this is a rollout, a plan name alone does not prove that the capability is active in a specific account. Open an actual notebook and verify that the code-enabled analysis surface is present before designing a workflow around it.
How Gemini App Syncing Works
Google says users can access and create notebooks from the Gemini app, with full cross-app syncing between Gemini and the standalone Gemini Notebook experience.
Use that as a continuity feature, not a reason to erase the standalone product boundary. A practical workflow is:
- Create or open the notebook where your research sources are managed.
- Confirm that the same notebook appears in the Gemini app.
- Check source access and output behavior on the surface you plan to use.
- Keep citations and source-grounded checks in the final review.
Google also announced that notebooks would come to AI Mode in Search. “Soon” is not a release date, so verify current Search availability instead of presenting it as universally live.
A Safe Migration Checklist
If your team already uses NotebookLM, review these fields before updating documentation:
- Replace the product name where the current interface says Gemini Notebook.
- Keep “formerly NotebookLM” in high-intent help copy while users adjust.
- Test existing notebook links, sharing, and account access.
- Verify whether code execution is enabled for each plan and workspace.
- Document where users should open notebooks: standalone, Gemini app, or both.
- Treat Search integration as pending until it is visible in the target account.
- Recheck privacy, retention, and organization policies for the data being uploaded.
What Did Not Become Safe to Assume
The rename does not make generated output automatically accurate. Code can fail, source data can be incomplete, and a result can look precise while using the wrong columns or assumptions.
For consequential analysis:
- inspect the generated code or calculation steps;
- compare outputs with the uploaded source;
- record exclusions and transformations;
- reproduce the result outside the notebook when necessary;
- use a qualified reviewer for regulated, financial, legal, medical, or safety-critical decisions.
Related Research Workflows
- Use the Gemini 3.1 model guide when the question is about a model rather than the notebook product.
- Read the Notion AI guide for a different knowledge-work product boundary.
- Try the Market Research AI workflow when you need to structure a research brief before collecting sources.
- Use the PDF Summary workflow to prepare a bounded document review before adding material to a notebook.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is NotebookLM now called Gemini Notebook?
Yes. Google announced the rename on July 16, 2026 and said it remains the same standalone research product while expanding across the Google ecosystem.
Was NotebookLM discontinued?
No. The official announcement describes a rename and expansion, not a shutdown. Existing users should verify how the new name and features appear in their own accounts.
Can Gemini Notebook run code?
Enabled notebooks can use a secure cloud computer to write and execute code for source-grounded analysis. Availability depends on plan and rollout.
Which plans received code execution?
At announcement time, Google listed AI Ultra users and eligible Workspace business customers. Google said all Pro users on the web would receive it over the following weeks.
Does Gemini Notebook sync with the Gemini app?
Google says users can create and access notebooks in the Gemini app with cross-app syncing to the standalone Gemini Notebook experience. Search AI Mode integration was announced as coming soon.
Primary Source
- Google: NotebookLM is now Gemini Notebook — official July 16, 2026 announcement covering the rename, standalone-product status, secure cloud computer, eligibility, Pro rollout, Gemini app sync, and planned Search integration.