Google Expands Gemini Notebook With Play Books
Google has launched Expert Intelligence, a new initiative that brings trusted expert content into its AI products. The first rollout connects eligible Google Play Books titles with Gemini Notebook, formerly known as NotebookLM.
The feature lets users add eligible ebooks they have purchased through Google Play Books directly to a Gemini Notebook. They can then ask questions about a book and receive answers grounded in that source. Furthermore, Gemini Notebook can turn book content into infographics, Audio Overviews, quizzes and other formats.
Expert Intelligence Connects Books With AI
At launch, Expert Intelligence supports more than 100,000 books from major publishers. These include Penguin Random House, Macmillan Publishers, O’Reilly Media, Johns Hopkins University Press, Bloomsbury and De Gruyter Brill.
Google has also worked with more than 15 bestselling authors to create Featured Notebooks. These notebooks add supplementary sources and interactive material around selected books. Moreover, participating authors include Steven Pinker, Michael Pollan and Jennifer Wallace.
The feature can also combine book-based knowledge with a user’s own information. For example, a manager could use Kim Scott’s Radical Candor alongside personal notes to explore workplace communication. Similarly, a reader could combine Michael Pollan’s Food Rules with information about available ingredients to develop a meal plan.
Google Editorial Director Steven Johnson said: “I’m really interested in the idea of building a collection of people whose work you really value, and kind of creating your own dream team of advisors that are just available to you wherever you go.”
Copyright Controls Shape the Rollout
Importantly, Google has built ownership requirements into the system. Users must own an eligible book through Google Play Books before they can use it as a Gemini Notebook source. If a notebook is shared, collaborators who do not own the book cannot access its content.
This approach also gives publishers and authors greater control over copyrighted material. Publishers Weekly reported that the initiative has received positive attention from publishing stakeholders because of its purchase requirement and source controls.
However, eligibility remains limited. Google says only selected English-language ebooks qualify, and publisher participation, language and formatting can affect availability.
Google Plans Wider Expert Content Integration
For now, Expert Intelligence focuses on books. However, Google plans to expand the initiative to additional sources, including third-party subscriptions, business research reports and textbooks. The company also expects to bring Expert Intelligence-enabled content to the Gemini app and AI Mode in Google Search.
Consequently, the initiative could change how users interact with expert-created content. Instead of relying only on general AI knowledge, users can build research workflows around sources they specifically trust and own.
The expansion also gives Google a framework for connecting licensed content with generative AI while maintaining access controls. Therefore, Expert Intelligence could become an important bridge between traditional publishing and Google’s growing AI ecosystem.
