Gemini Notebook now lets you query your purchased books
Google's Gemini Notebook has added an 'Expert Intelligence' feature that integrates with Google Play Books. Users can ask questions, generate plans, and create AI podcasts based on book content. Over 100,000 titles from major publishers are supported initially.
The feature launches with support for over 100,000 titles from major publishers including Penguin Random House, Macmillan, and O'Reilly Media. Fifteen authors, among them Michael Pollan and Steven Pinker, have created customized "Featured Notebooks" that pair their books with supplementary materials and introductory letters.
Access controls prevent sharing of purchased content. Users who receive a shared Notebook containing a book they don't own will see the source listed but cannot view its text or related information, with a link directing them to purchase the title. Google plans to extend the capability to scholarly articles, magazines, and newspapers, and to bring it into AI Mode in Search and the Gemini app.
This feature could reshape how readers engage with purchased books, transforming them from static texts into interactive knowledge bases. Students and professionals may find new value in their libraries, while publishers gain a fresh revenue channel. However, it may also raise questions about fair compensation for authors and deepen reliance on AI for comprehension, potentially affecting critical reading skills.