How to Unlock NotebookLM’s Python API for Batch Automation and AI Workflows

Problem and Motivation

Using the NotebookLM web UI requires uploading each file manually and clicking through the interface to generate results. For researchers or content creators who need to process dozens or hundreds of PDFs, YouTube videos, or other documents, this manual workflow becomes a major time sink.

Core Features (Hidden Capabilities)

Programmatic access to all NotebookLM functions via an unofficial Python API and CLI.

Bulk download of generated assets such as MP3, MP4, PDF, etc.

Export of quizzes and flashcards in JSON or CSV format.

Extraction of the raw JSON representation of mind‑maps, enabling downstream visualization or further processing that the web UI cannot provide.

Usage Modes

Python API – Integrate NotebookLM into data‑analysis pipelines, asynchronous workflows, or custom research applications.

Command‑Line Interface (CLI) – Execute quick tasks from a terminal, suitable for embedding in shell scripts or CI/CD pipelines.

AI Agent Integration – The library ships with “skills” for Claude Code, Codex and similar assistants, allowing natural‑language commands such as “use NotebookLM to analyze this GitHub repo and generate a briefing”.

“It turns NotebookLM from a handy tool into a powerful, callable ‘capability component’ for other AIs—an essential step in the evolution of the AI Agent ecosystem.” – Community developer

Quick Start (Five Minutes)

Prerequisite: a Google account with access to NotebookLM.

Step 1: Install pip install notebooklm-py Step 2: Authenticate notebooklm login This launches the OAuth flow to authorize the library.

Step 3: Example Code

from notebooklm import NotebookLM
nlm = NotebookLM()
# Create a new notebook
notebook = nlm.create_notebook(title="My Research Project")
# Add a local PDF as a source
source = notebook.add_source(file_path="./my_paper.pdf")
# Ask a question about the source
response = notebook.chat("What are the core innovations of this paper?")
print(response)

Caveats and Recommended Scope

notebooklm-py is an unofficial project that relies on Google’s internal, undocumented APIs. Those APIs may change without notice, potentially breaking the library, and extensive usage can trigger rate‑limit errors. The author recommends the library for prototyping, personal projects, and exploratory research, and advises against deploying it in critical production environments.