Google has created a research and writing assistant called NotebookLM that allows you to process documents with artificial intelligence: summarize them, convert them into podcasts, search for information within them or have conversations about their content. It is useful, but it has a drawback: it works only online, depends on Google's servers and some functions require payment. Now there is an alternative that changes the rules of the game: Open Notebook, a free, open-source tool that you install directly on your computer.

What is Open Notebook and how it works

As hipertextual.com points out, Open Notebook is a knowledge management system powered by AI that runs on your own server. Instead of sending your documents to Google, they remain on your computer, your NAS or even on a Raspberry Pi. The operation is virtually identical to NotebookLM: you create thematic notebooks, add sources (links, texts or documents), and artificial intelligence works with them.

From that point on, you can ask it to summarize content, search for specific information, answer questions based on your documents or even generate a podcast with synthetic voice. All in separate chats to keep each topic isolated, without mixing histories or information.

The decisive advantage: compatibility with multiple AI models

Here is the fundamental difference. NotebookLM exclusively uses Gemini, Google's AI. Open Notebook, on the other hand, is compatible with dozens of different models:

• Commercial models: OpenAI's GPT, Anthropic's Claude, or Google's own Gemini.
• Local platforms: Ollama and LMStudio, which allow you to run AI on your own device without connecting to external servers.
• Other providers: ElevenLabs, Groq, Mistral and many more.

If you choose a local model via Ollama, you don't even need an API key. If you prefer a commercial one, even if it's free, you'll need it for Open Notebook to communicate with the service.

Technical requirements: more accessible than it seems

Installation requires Docker, software that makes it easy to deploy applications in containers. It's not complicated, but it's not a one-click process like NotebookLM. Minimum requirements are modest: 4 GB of RAM and 2 GB of disk space. However, if you want to run AI models locally instead of using cloud services, you'll need more processing power and storage.

You can install Open Notebook on your home PC or Mac, on a NAS server or even on small devices like a Raspberry Pi. Once running, you access it from any browser on your local network, and even from outside your home if you configure it correctly.

Who is it for? Privacy and total control

Open Notebook is ideal if you value the privacy of your documents, want to avoid monthly subscriptions or simply prefer to have total control over where your information is stored. Also for those who work on multiple projects and need flexibility in choosing which AI to use depending on the task.

The trade-off is clear: it needs to be installed by someone with certain technical knowledge, or at least with curiosity to learn. NotebookLM wins on immediate convenience; Open Notebook wins on freedom and privacy.

Does it make sense to make that effort in your case? It depends on how much you value keeping your data away from external servers and how comfortable you feel configuring local tools.