Google Expands Gemini Notebook With Visible Thinking Steps and Workspace Integration
Google rebrands and expands its research notebook experience into Gemini Notebook, integrating with Workspace and adding visible thinking steps.
Stock photo for illustration only, not from the actual event
- Google is expanding its research notebook experience into the integrated Gemini Notebook.
- Eligible subscribers can expand thinking steps to view model operations during chats.
- The workspace includes code execution and cross-product syncing with Google Workspace and Search.
- Rollout is tiered by plan, starting with Google AI Ultra and Workspace AI Ultra Access.
Google is expanding its notebook-based research experience into Gemini Notebook, a more integrated product connecting the Gemini app, Google Search, and Google Workspace. The significant new user-facing capability is the option for eligible subscribers to expand thinking steps during chats and notebook operations, offering more visibility into what the model is doing as it works.
This change moves the product beyond a simple repository for documents and questions. Gemini Notebook is positioned as a source-grounded workspace for research, analysis, and project materials, allowing chats and content to sync across Google products. Google has also added code execution within notebooks while retaining citation-backed responses and output formats such as Audio Overviews and Mind Maps.
The rollout is phased, with initial access centered on Google AI Ultra users and Workspace AI Ultra Access, followed by web availability for Pro users. Earlier notebooks in Gemini access were also described for Ultra, Pro, and Plus subscribers on the web, with mobile expansion planned for the future.
Stock photo for illustration only, not from the actual event
The transition from NotebookLM to Gemini Notebook highlights Google's strategy to bridge AI research tools with comprehensive productivity ecosystems. By introducing visible thinking steps and secure code execution inside notebooks, Google aims to streamline the workflow from raw data collection to actionable analysis, though enterprise users must still implement rigorous governance structures.
Google's support documentation notes that advanced users on Google AI Ultra and Pro can expand thinking steps to view details of model operations. However, Google cautions that these advanced reasoning features remain experimental and mistakes remain possible, meaning thinking steps should serve as an aid to inspection rather than absolute proof of correctness.
Regarding data privacy, Google states that uploaded sources remain private unless shared by users and are not used to train models, offering crucial reassurance for teams handling proprietary research, internal documentation, or sensitive client materials within a shared research environment.
Source: Dev.to
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