Google Gemini and NotebookLM

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Google Gemini and NotebookLM

Google Gemini and NotebookLM support these learning types (see definitions):

Acquisition

Inquiry

Production

Google Gemini is an AI assistant that can help you draft, summarise, brainstorm, and answer questions using natural language input. It is powered by a multimodal large language model (LLM)—an AI model that is ‘trained’ on large amounts of data (handling input from text, images, video, or audio) to identify patterns and predict the next word or phrase in a sentence and generate output.

NotebookLM is an AI-powered research assistant that helps you explore and ask questions about your own documents and sources. It utilises retrieval-augmented generation (RAG)—an AI process whereby a large language model (LLM) first refers to supplementary information (your uploaded content) which is blended with information from ‘training’ data to improve the accuracy of the responses.

While these are powerful tools, it is important to remember that they are not exempt from bias, distortion or fabrication (termed ‘hallucinations’) and should be used to supplement rather than replace traditional learning. Students should:

Be given clear guidance on when and how it may be used for coursework and assessment tasks
Always verify the information provided by the tool
Consult with their teacher when in doubt

Who can use Gemini and NotebookLM?

Google’s AI tools have been available since 2023 and while they have been freely available for anyone to use via the web browser and mobile apps, the University has recently extended our Google for Education license so that staff and students have extra data protection while using them. This means that our data is not used to train its LLM, thus preventing sensitive information from becoming ‘discoverable’ by the public.

The Education version is active when you login (prior to using the tools) with your University of Auckland Google account. Your account username is: username@aucklanduni.ac.nz, e.g., jblo001@aucklanduni.ac.nz

Are there usage limitations?

Although our Google Workspace Education Plan provides data protection, it provides limited access to the features offered by the upgraded Business/Enterprise Plan, including a usage limit via ‘tokens’, which replenish over time. The University is not providing upgrade options to staff at present. Read about the differences between these plans and what the Google for Education Plan provides.

Use Gemini

https://gemini.google.com

Gemini supports these features:

Deep Research—creates a focused research plan on a topic of your choosing. It provides key insights and references for you to investigate further and determine the legitimacy of the information provided.
Canvas—enables users to ask Gemini to write scripts that simulate real world scenarios. It generates code for creating quizzes, work optimisation dashboards, interactive apps, games, and more.
Images—generates images from text prompts, allowing you to visualise your ideas. Alternatively, it can perform edits on uploaded images like recreating the image in a certain (artistic) style. Or, through object recognition, perform tasks like removing an object, altering the background, or providing a description of what the image represents.

*NB: Gemini’s Canvas is not to be confused with our Canvas LMS.

Use NotebookLM

https://notebooklm.google.com

NotebookLM transforms your uploaded content into:

Engaging interview-style podcasts for listening at your leisure
Key insights on your uploaded sources like lesson plans or lecture notes
Discussion questions and summaries of your content
Quizzes for formative or summative assessment
Mind map diagrams representing the key concepts in the document provided

NotebookLM also cites its sources so you can delve deeper into the source information.

Google Notebook LM has three main panels for input Sources, chat and prompt input, and Studio panel for regenerating content into various formats.

* Both tools are also available as mobile apps via the App Store or Google Play Store.

How to guides

Getting started

Familiarise yourself with the University’s Gen-AI Usage Standard before uploading any content.
Find out what is meant by internal, sensitive, and restricted data via the University’s Data Classification Standard (sensitive and restricted data must not be used with these tools).
Access the tools via the web links above or install the mobile apps.
Sign in using your University of Auckland Google account (username@aucklanduni.ac.nz). Scroll down and read the FAQ on this page about how to log in.
Label/cite AI-generated content and apply critical judgement to outputs.

From the University

AI at the University

From Google

Gemini overview
Gemini Deep Research (how does it work and how to use)
Gemini Canvas (what it is and FAQs)
NotebookLM help
Use cases in using Gemini for education (Google slides)

FAQs

What are the deficiencies of generative AI in education?

The limitations of tools like Gemini and NotebookLM are not trivial and should be taken into consideration and explained to students at every opportunity.

Outdated information—their knowledge base is only current up to a point in time.
Lacking personalisation—no ability to adapt responses to an individual or a learning type.
No emotional intelligence—an inability to understand emotional cues results in no provision for learning support or motivation.
Inaccuracy and bias—they are not infallible and prone to information bias. They can even generate fake references in an attempt to sound plausible. Therefore it is imperative for users to cross-verify against reliable sources.
Lack of context—they don’t remember past interactions when starting a new conversation, leading to an inability to provide relevant responses longitudinally.

Is my data protected while using Gemini and NotebookLM?

Yes, when signed in to Gemini or NotebookLM with your University of Auckland account it is safe to use internal data (see the the University’s Data Classification Standard); your interactions will remain private. Your information will not be used to train its large language model for future interactions by other users.

See the FAQ below about how to log in to Gemini and NotebookLM.

* Sensitive and restricted data must not be used with Gemini and NotebookLM. Such data must remain held at the University. AI chat services are cloud hosted so the data would not remain held at the University.

How do I log in to Gemini and NotebookLM?

Browse to either https://gemini.google.com/ or https://notebooklm.google.com/
If you are not already signed in you will see a ‘sign in’ button at the top corner.

Note: If you are already logged in to Google, check that you are logged in with your University Profile via the icon at the top corner. If you are logged in with a personal account, log out and log in again with your University one.

What if I suspect a student of unauthorised use of used generative AI tools for coursework?

Please review the advice given on the Staff Intranet on the non-permissible use of Gen-AI in assessments.

Support

For support with assessment redesign or incorporating generative AI into your courses, book a session with Ranga Auaha Ako, Learning and Teaching Design Team through the TeachWell Consult service.

If you have general questions about University policy and/or procedures around using generative AI, you can email the Academic Quality Office.

For technical support and feedback on the use of these tools, contact Staff Service Centre.