Google NotebookLM's New Short Video Overview: A Genealogist's First Look

Google NotebookLM's new Short Video Overview feature transforms genealogy presentations and blog articles into engaging one-minute videos with AI.

​Google NotebookLM's New Short Video Overview: A Genealogist's First Look

When Google NotebookLM first introduced Audio Overviews, I was impressed with how easily it could turn research into a conversational podcast. Since then, NotebookLM has continued adding new AI-powered features, and a few days ago another one quietly appeared: Short Video Overview.
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Naturally, I had to try it.

As many of you know, I enjoy testing new AI tools to see how they can actually help genealogists—not just because they're new, but because they might save time, improve communication, or make family history more engaging.
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So I spent some time experimenting.

​My Test

Rather than uploading random documents, I decided to use material I already knew well.

My first test used the PDF of one of my PowerPoint presentations, complete with the speaker notes:
Finding Descendants in Your Family Tree

NotebookLM analyzes whatever sources you add to your notebook and then offers three suggested topics it thinks would make good short videos. You can also ignore those suggestions and create your own custom topic.

I generated several versions, using each option.

The first attempt wasn't particularly impressive.

The second was noticeably better.

By the third version, NotebookLM had created a concise one-minute video that did a nice job explaining Why Genealogists Trace Descendants, one of the suggested topics. It wasn't perfect, but it was certainly good enough to share.​

Want to see the result?
▶ Watch: "Why Genealogists Trace Descendants"

​Testing with a Blog Article

Next, I wanted to see whether NotebookLM worked just as well with written content.
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This time I uploaded one of my blog articles:
4 Essential Websites for Early California Genealogy Research

Again, NotebookLM suggested several possible video topics.

I generated several versions, trying each option, until I found one I liked.
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One that caught my attention was:
How to Find Pre-1850 California Ancestors
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▶ Watch: "How to Find Pre-1850 California Ancestors"

Testing both presentations and blog articles gave me a better idea of where this new feature shines—and where it still needs some work.

​What I Like

After creating quite a few videos, here are my first impressions.

Short and Easy to Watch
Each video is only about a minute long.
That makes them much easier for viewers to consume than longer educational videos, especially on social media.

It Finds Good Talking Points
I was pleasantly surprised by many of the suggested topics NotebookLM generated automatically.
Sometimes it identified the exact angle I would have chosen myself.

Multiple Versions
One thing I quickly learned is that you're not limited to a single result.
If the first video isn't quite right, simply generate another.
Each version is slightly different, and sometimes the improvement is significant.
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Custom Topics
You're not limited to NotebookLM's suggested topics.
If you already know what you'd like the video to focus on, you can enter your own custom topic and let NotebookLM build the video around that idea.

​Where It Still Falls Short

Like most AI tools, the results can be somewhat inconsistent.
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Some videos were excellent.

Others completely missed the point I wanted to emphasize.

That's why I recommend generating multiple versions before deciding whether a video is worth sharing.

Another thing I discovered is that the videos themselves can become fairly large files, even for these shorts.

Since I wanted to add my website address to each video, I imported them into Google Vids to add a small text footer.

That simple edit nearly doubled the file size.​

Instead of uploading those large files directly, I chose to upload them to YouTube and simply share the links. For me, that's a much more practical solution.

​Ideas for Genealogists

As I experimented, I found myself thinking beyond presentations and blog posts.
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This feature could be useful for creating:

• Summaries of genealogy presentations
• Quick introductions to research topics
• Educational social media posts
• Highlights from genealogy blog articles
• Family history storytelling
• Ancestor spotlights
• Society announcements
• Research tips

Because the videos are so short, they're ideal for grabbing attention and encouraging viewers to learn more.

My Overall Thoughts

NotebookLM's Short Video Overview feature isn't perfect, but it's surprisingly useful.

Some videos will miss the mark.

Others will capture your content remarkably well.

The key is experimenting with different sources, trying multiple generations, and taking advantage of both the suggested and custom topics.

For genealogists who already create presentations, write blog posts, or produce educational content, this feature offers another creative way to repurpose the work you've already done.

I'll definitely continue experimenting with it, and I'm looking forward to seeing how Google improves it over time.
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If you've tried NotebookLM's new Short Video Overview feature, I'd love to hear about your experience. Did it capture your content well, or did you have to generate several versions before finding one you liked?

​More AI in Genealogy

Learn about more AI in genealogy updates, tips, and resources (including more NotebookLM tools), along with other family history and genealogy resources under the AI in Genealogy and Genealogy Resources categories and on my dedictaed Genealogy Resources page.