It’s funny how OpenAI tries so hard to overshadow Google yet it’s Google that’s actually shipping products we like. Last one: NotebookML. As a writer, I’ve already found five cool use cases. ChatGPT *never* helped me this much:
I have many unfinished drafts. Notebook can jog my memory about things I wrote half a year ago. It takes 2 minutes to create and 5-10 to listen to. I’ve done it several times already and it doesn’t miss. The ideas are there, the nuances, the details, the plot twists…
Google made the product so that the AI is both enthusiastic and flattering. It’s extremely pleasing hearing it talk about your work. It helps me get in the mood to continue to explore the topic AND see my own work with better eyes.
But because it’s actually a deep dive, I can even find holes in the reasoning or the flow. If it says something that doesn’t quite work it’s likely that something in the text isn’t flowing well.
It helps me make that subtle switch from “writer” mindset to “reader” mindset. That skill is fundamental when you edit your own writing. I need to be able to see my words without the tacit context I tend to assume readers have.
I don’t expect Notebook to give me new ideas or criticize my work constructively but once or twice I’ve managed to triangulate a new perspective combining what I think with what they say. It’s almost like reading about one topic from two different people.
Writers tend to dismiss AI tools because they don’t want AI to replace them or their presence on the page. Notebook doesn’t. It’s just an internal workflow tool to improve your productivity.
I also don’t recommend using it to “create content”. There’s already enough slop online. Don’t participate in the pollution of the web.
Anyway, it’s worth trying it out even if you’re not a writer or never plan to use it.