I replaced my notes app with Gemini’s new Notebooks — and I’m not going back

I’m the kind of person who takes a screenshot to remember something… and then forgets where I saved it.

My Notes app is full of half-baked ideas. I’ve used Google Docs as a dumping ground. I’ve even walked around with actual sticky notes in my pocket.

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So when Google rolled out Notebooks inside Google Gemini, I decided to try something a little extreme: I replaced my notes app entirely. Here’s what happened.

NotebookLM, this will feel familiar — but hear me out, it’s even more powerful. Gemini Notebooks are essentially personal AI workspaces. Now, instead of asking random questions in a blank chat, you build a contained environment by uploading your own materials such as notes, documents, PDFs, ideas, research and yes, even my hand written sticky notes get scanned and uploaded.

From there, Gemini responds based on your information. Essentially, instead of asking AI to think for you, you’re giving it the facts to think with. It’s not replacing your brain (let’s be clear), it’s helping sift through everything you’re working on to help you stay organized. For me, that has meant thinking clear and staying on task far more.

(Image credit: Google Notebook)

Google has said that Notebooks in Gemini will initially roll out to Google AI Ultra, Pro and Plus subscribers on the web. So if you don’t see it yet, rest assured that it’s coming. If you don’t see it, try logging out and back in just to make sure. (That worked for me). If it’s available to you, you’ll see it on the left side bar near where you’d start a new chat.

To make this a real test, I created three notebooks:

Work: Story drafts, article ideas, outlines and rough notesLife: Errands, reminders, random thoughts, things I’d normally dump into my phoneProjects: Longer-term ideas, prompts, experiments and anything I didn’t want to lose

From there, any time I had an idea, needed to plan something or wanted to find information — I went straight to Gemini.

What surprised me most is that Gemini actually remembers context without me repeating myself. With all my notes and information within the Notebook, I didn’t have to start from scratch every time.

Whenever I went into my “LIfe Notebook” to pull up something about my son’s soccer game this weekend or plans for an upcoming birthday party, everything was organized. I didn’t have to dig through old chats, which felt like a huge win.