A few months back, Google added a feature called Slide Deck to NotebookLM, which lets you convert sources uploaded to a notebook into a full-fledged presentation.
This feature is powered by Google's Nano Banana image model, and you can currently create two Slide Deck formats: Detailed Deck or Presenter Slides. The Detailed Deck is perfect for generating a comprehensive presentation with maximum information from your sources, while Presenter Slides are optimized for on-screen clarity, focusing on concise bullet points and visuals that make your talk easy to follow.
In addition to selecting the format and language of the Slide Deck, you can also choose between Short or Default deck lengths. However, if you hit the Generate button after configuring these settings, the deck produced might feel very generic.
That said, I’ve found that a detailed prompt works wonders with the Slide Deck feature. By explicitly specifying everything, from the presentation title and what each slide should include to the overall design scheme and visual style, you can push NotebookLM to generate a deck that feels far more intentional and presentation-ready right out of the gate.
Here's a prompt you can tweak that I rely on extensively:I have attached a script for a [X-minute] presentation delivered to [audience type] titled "[Presentation Title]."
Please generate a Slide-by-Slide Outline for this script. For each slide, provide:
Slide Title: Catchy and relevant to the target audience.
Visual Description: Specific instructions on what image, diagram, or screenshot should appear on the slide. (Include placeholders for any interactive elements, like QR codes, if needed.)
On-Screen Text: Maximum 3–5 bullet points. Keep it minimal. Please not paste the whole script. Use keywords or technical terms relevant to the topic.
Design Style: [e.g., Dark mode, minimalist, professional, playful, futuristic — choose a style that fits your audience].
Optional Guidance on Key Sections: Provide your own headings if you like, but consider including:
- Introduction / Hook
- Problem / Challenge
- Solution / Approach
- Interactive Moment / Example
- Core Concept / Key Terms
- Conclusion / Takeaways
The "five essential questions" prompt
Stop using NotebookLM for just answers
1.) Analyze all inputs and generate 5 essential questions that, when answered, capture the main points and core meaning of all inputs.
2.) When formulating your questions:
a. Address the central theme (or themes if there are many) or argument (or arguments if many).
b. Identify key supporting ideas
c. Highlight important facts or evidence
d. Reveal the author's purpose or perspective
e. Explore any significant implications or conclusions.
3.) Answer all of your generated questions one-by-one in detail.
Audio Overview formats
A mixed bag
The “Teach It to a 12-Year-Old” prompt
Have you heard about the Feynman Technique? Chances are, you know about the technique — you just might not know it by name. At its core, the Feynman Technique is about learning by teaching: if you can explain a concept simply and clearly, you actually understand it. And if you can’t, that’s usually a sign there are gaps in your knowledge. Here’s a prompt that applies this idea directly to NotebookLM’s Audio Overviews:
"Explain the core concepts in this source as if you are teaching a smart 12-year-old. Use analogies for every complex term. If there is a concept that is abstract, ground it in a real-world physical example. Focus on why this matters, not just what it is."
Quick meeting brief
The “Chaotic Podcast Hosts” Prompt
Sometimes, you just want to listen to a really, really chaotic podcast. Why not convert your sources into a wild, improvisational discussion using NotebookLM? With this prompt I found on Reddit (and slightly polished myself), you can generate scenarios where hosts clash, trade witty insults, and riff off improvised backstories. It's an incredibly fun way to listen to your sources in a completely different yet entertaining format.
Host names: Amber & Rick.
Hosts dislike each other and the topics they’re discussing.
Dialogue style: Dry, sly, witty, and hilariously underhanded insults. Incorporate sarcasm, thinly veiled cynicism, and unrestrained contempt.
Storytelling: Improvise implied backstory, history, relationships, and personal knowledge to create fodder for embarrassment or humiliation. Include a few underlying story arcs that gradually unfold.
Escalation: Have the hosts go at each other increasingly viciously until they lose their temper and yell venomously.
Resolution: End with one host making a completely unexpected, hilarious joke that breaks the tension and makes both laugh uncontrollably.
