Google integrates Play Books into Gemini Notebook for AI analysis

Google Labs editorial director Steven Johnson demonstrated the tool by pulling management strategies from Kim Scott’s Radical Candor and culinary insights from Michael Pollan’s Food Rules. Beyond simple summaries, the platform permits users to view full texts within the interface and consult curated "Featured Notebooks" developed by 15 prominent authors, including Steven Pinker and Jennifer Wallace. The rollout includes partnerships with major publishers such as Penguin Random House, Macmillan, and O’Reilly Media.

To manage copyright concerns, Google implemented strict access controls. If a user shares a notebook containing a purchased book, recipients who do not own the title cannot view the source text, though they are provided with a direct link to purchase the work on Google Play Books. The company intends to expand this functionality beyond Notebooks, eventually integrating Expert Intelligence into Search and the broader Gemini app. Future updates will broaden support to include magazines, newspapers, and scholarly articles.