← Back to Blog

Create an AI Explainer Video in 5 Minutes with Google Notebook LM

Want to turn a PDF, Google Doc, or YouTube video into a professional explainer video? Google Notebook LM's new video overview feature makes it possible—and it's available in over 80 languages. Here's how to create compelling AI-generated video content in just minutes.

Key Takeaways

  • Google Notebook LM now generates video overviews from your sources (PDFs, docs, YouTube videos)
  • Available in 80+ languages as of late August 2025
  • Only include relevant sources—mixed topics will muddy your output
  • Video generation takes about 5 minutes and creates professional-quality explainer content
  • The AI often presents information better than the original source
  • Use the output for blog embeds, newsletter content, video scripts, or voice-over training
  • ---

    Why This Matters for Content Creators

    LinkedIn Live can feel complicated. But what if you could turn your existing content into polished explainer videos that reach thousands of potential clients—for free?

    Google Notebook LM lets you take content you've already created and transform it into a new format with AI-powered presentation. The AI doesn't just summarize—it reorganizes, compresses, and presents your ideas with enthusiasm and clarity.

    ---

    Step-by-Step Guide

    Step 1: Access Google Notebook LM

    Go to notebooklm.google.com

    If you don't have an account:

  • Click "Try Now"
  • Sign in with a Gmail email
  • You'll be taken to the main dashboard
  • Step 2: Create a New Notebook

    Click "Create new notebook"

    You'll be prompted to either upload sources or discover sources.

    Important concept: Sources let Notebook LM base its responses on the information that matters to you most. Whatever you put into this notebook will be used to create your video overview.

    Step 3: Add Relevant Sources Only

    Here's the critical rule: Only upload sources related to your specific topic.

    If you want to create a video about "How to Go Live on LinkedIn" but you add sources about:

  • LinkedIn newsletters
  • ChatGPT for small business owners
  • Unrelated masterclass content
  • ...it will convolute and muddy your video overview.

    Source types you can add:

  • YouTube videos (paste the URL)
  • Google Docs
  • Google Slides
  • PDFs
  • Copied text from Word documents
  • Step 4: Add Multiple Related Sources

    For a comprehensive video overview, add multiple sources on the same topic.

    Example for a LinkedIn Live tutorial:

  • "How to Go Live on Video on LinkedIn" (main video)
  • "Can You Prerecord LinkedIn Live Video?" (related content)
  • "LinkedIn Live Video for Business: Top 3 Mistakes to Avoid" (complementary)
  • To add more sources:

  • Click "Add" in the top left
  • Select source type (YouTube, docs, etc.)
  • Paste URL or upload file
  • Repeat for all relevant sources
  • Step 5: Generate the Video Overview

    Once all sources are added:
  • Go to the top right of your notebook
  • Click "Video Overview"
  • Wait for generation (approximately 5 minutes)
  • The AI will create an explainer video presented by AI hosts who walk through your content.

    ---

    What to Expect from the Output

    Video Length

    With three sources, expect approximately 6 minutes of content.

    Quality of Presentation

    The AI often presents information better than the original:

    > "She did a better job than me when presenting this information because the thing that sets LinkedIn Live video events apart... the thousand number is critical because what LinkedIn live video events allow you to do is invite 1,000 people to your live video events every week."

    What the AI Does Well:

  • Reorganizes information for better flow
  • Gets to the main point quickly (often within 30 seconds)
  • Presents with enthusiasm in voice
  • Removes redundancy from your content
  • Compresses long-form content into digestible chunks
  • Areas for Improvement:

  • Visuals could be more branded
  • First slide could include relevant logos
  • Some customization is limited
  • ---

    The Power of LinkedIn Live (From the Video)

    The video overview explains the unique power of LinkedIn Live events:

    The 1,000 Number: LinkedIn allows you to invite 1,000 first-degree connections to a live video event every single week—for free.

    Monthly Math:

  • 4,000 invites per month
  • If 800 click "Attend"
  • At least 100 will show up live
  • With 100 qualified people live:

  • 3-5 calls minimum
  • Close at least one high-ticket client
  • Potential value: $100,000-$250,000 per client for high-ticket offers
  • Why This Matters: This is one of the most misunderstood and underutilized features on LinkedIn. It's not just about hitting "Go Live"—it's about having a smart strategy.

    ---

    How to Use Your Video Overview

    Once you download your video overview, you can:

    1. Embed in Blog Posts

    Add the video directly to articles for multimedia content that increases engagement and time on page.

    2. Extract the Transcript

    Use the transcript for:
  • LinkedIn newsletters
  • Email sequences
  • Additional blog content
  • 3. Feed into Custom GPTs

    Put the transcript into AI tools to generate:
  • Social media posts
  • Email campaigns
  • Content variations
  • 4. Create a New Video Script

    Use the reorganized, compressed content as a script for recording your own improved video.

    5. Train Voice Cloning

    Take the transcript, put it into tools like Descript, and create content with your own AI-trained voice.

    ---

    Why Source Quality Matters

    The AI's output is only as good as its input.

    > "The reason that it's good is because it has good sources, and so it's easy to follow along with. This is why in your long-form video presentations or in your podcast or in whatever sources that you put in here, the material has to be easy for the AI to understand and to organize."

    Best practices for sources:

  • Use well-structured long-form content
  • Include clear data points and statistics
  • Have logical flow in your presentations
  • Avoid rambling or disorganized material
  • ---

    Learning from the AI

    One unexpected benefit: The AI can teach you to present better.

    By watching how Notebook LM reorganizes your content, you might discover:

  • More compelling ways to structure information
  • Better opening hooks
  • More logical flow between points
  • > "Just listening to how it reorganized my thoughts, I may just switch it. And so this is an opportunity for you to put in your sources, to put in how your presentations flow, and to see how AI could potentially compress it to six minutes."

    ---

    Quick Reference: Video Overview Workflow

  • Go to notebooklm.google.com
  • Create new notebook
  • Add 2-4 related sources (YouTube links, docs, PDFs)
  • Click "Video Overview" (top right)
  • Wait ~5 minutes for generation
  • Download the video
  • Repurpose for blogs, newsletters, scripts, and more
  • ---

    The Bottom Line

    Google Notebook LM's video overview feature transforms how you can repurpose content. In just 5 minutes, you can turn existing material into professional explainer videos that:
    • Reach new audiences
    • Present information more compellingly
    • Save hours of video production time
    • Generate content for multiple platforms

    If the information is good and the flow is good in your sources, you'll get outputs worth leveraging across your entire content strategy.

    ---

    Watch the full tutorial: YouTube Video

    Subscribe for more AI and LinkedIn strategies: Shanee Moret's YouTube Channel

    Have questions? Drop the number of LinkedIn followers or connections you have in the comments and send a connection request—Shanee is happy to connect!

    Want More Insights?

    Subscribe to the YouTube channel for weekly videos on AI, LinkedIn, and growing your business.

    Subscribe on YouTube →