Google NotebookLM Just Got a Major Upgrade: Google Drops Custom AI Video Styles

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Google NotebookLM Just Got a Major Upgrade Google Drops Custom AI Video Styles

Google is giving NotebookLM a fresh dose of creativity.
The company has started rolling out custom video styles for the platform’s AI-generated Video Overviews, letting users steer the look and feel of summary videos using simple text prompts.

The update — which quietly began landing for users on November 13, 2025 — transforms NotebookLM from a smart research assistant into a lightweight creative studio. Early testers say it already changes how they package notes, documents, and research for presentations.

But the rollout is slow, and not everyone is happy.

A New Layer of Control for AI Video Summaries

Until now, NotebookLM’s Video Overviews relied on fixed templates. Useful, yes — but limited.

The new update unlocks fully customizable styles. Users can type a prompt like:

  • “Vintage film noir”
  • “Futuristic sci-fi intro”
  • “Minimal clean explainer”
  • “VHS retro documentary”

NotebookLM then generates a video summary of your notes using that visual mood.

Google confirmed the launch through NotebookLM’s official account, teasing that expectations are “sky high” as users begin experimenting with styles.

Early Users Say It Feels Surprisingly Professional

Creators, students, and researchers who spotted the feature early report that the outputs feel more polished than expected.

Many say it’s easier to produce presentation-ready content without editing tools. A few even described the feature as “a shortcut to studio-style explainers.”

The rollout appears to be gradual, meaning availability varies by account. TestingCatalog, which tracks feature releases, noted that some users may have to wait a bit before the custom-style box shows up.

Praise — and Frustration

While the creative flexibility is winning fans, the update is also resurfacing two long-standing complaints:

1. No Folder Support

Users still can’t organize NotebookLM projects into folders — a surprising omission for a tool built around research and long-term notes. Many hoped this update would bring broader usability upgrades.

2. Limited Regional Availability

NotebookLM remains unavailable in several regions, and the new feature follows the same restrictions. Some users praised the feature online only to realize it still hasn’t reached their country.

Google hasn’t provided new timelines for expansion but did hint that “more improvements are coming.”

Why This Matters

NotebookLM is one of Google’s most ambitious AI tools — a personal research assistant that summarizes documents, generates briefs, and now produces custom visual explainers.

As AI-generated content becomes mainstream, giving users more aesthetic control is a major step toward accessible creative tools. For students, marketers, analysts, and newsrooms, this could make NotebookLM a go-to for quick, on-brand summaries.

What Happens Next

Based on Google’s language today, more personalization options are likely on the roadmap:

  • More visual templates
  • Sharper voice and tone controls
  • Expanded global availability
  • Better document management (folders remain a top request)

The company is framing the update as a beginning, not the final version.

Embedded Tweets (as referenced in the story)

NotebookLM announcement tweet:

TestingCatalog confirmation:

Conclusion

Google just handed NotebookLM users a powerful creative tool — one that makes AI summaries more personal, more expressive, and far more useful.
The only catch? The rollout is slow, and the feature still isn’t available everywhere.

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