I Asked NotebookLM to Make Sense of My Digital Chaos — And It Kind of Did

Between Gmail, Google Keep, and countless chat threads, I thought I had a good handle on my digital life. But after feeding this chaos into NotebookLM, I quickly realized how much I’d been missing. It grouped ideas, recalled context, and even answered oddly specific questions like, “What are the main projects I’ve been talking about this month?”

Here’s how I used NotebookLM to untangle my inboxes and messages — and how it changed the way I manage information overload.

Gathering Together All My Sources

The first step was to collect data from the four platforms I use most: Gmail, Google Keep, WhatsApp, and Google Messages.

Emails

I started with emails, which were surprisingly easy to manage. I exported key Gmail threads related to projects, clients, and personal discussions. To save an email as a PDF, open it, click the printer icon, and select Save as PDF under Destination.

Google Keep Notes

Next came Google Keep. I opened each note I wanted and pasted it into a single text file. While Google Takeout can export all notes, manual selection was faster for the few that mattered. This way, NotebookLM only analyzed the relevant information instead of everything I’d ever written.

Messages and Chats

For Google Messages, I didn’t try to export everything. I picked a few important threads, copied the meaningful parts, and dropped them into Google Docs before uploading them as sources.

You can also use SMS Backup & Restore for a more structured export. Back up your messages, open View Backups, select a conversation, and save it as a PDF via the Print conversation option.

I also included WhatsApp group chats, which are often a mix of jokes and real plans. To export one, open the chat, tap the three-dot menu, choose More > Export chat, and upload the file.

Analyzing Convoluted Email Threads

When I returned from a vacation, my project team had continued discussing updates through a massive email thread I hadn’t read. Instead of scrolling endlessly, I uploaded the thread to NotebookLM and asked it to summarize what had changed and list pending tasks.

Within seconds, it gave me a concise summary that covered key decisions, follow-ups, and unresolved questions. What would have taken an hour to read was condensed into a few bullet points.

Making Sense of My Google Keep Notes

My Google Keep is usually a chaotic mix of grocery lists, article quotes, and ideas. I uploaded several notes and asked NotebookLM: “What recurring themes do you see here?”

It grouped similar topics — like digital minimalism, time blocking, and productivity ideas — revealing patterns I hadn’t noticed. Now, instead of manually organizing my notes, I simply upload them and let NotebookLM summarize them for me.

When NotebookLM Met My WhatsApp Chats

Out of curiosity, I uploaded a long WhatsApp group chat with friends. I started with simple questions like “What are the main topics in this chat?” and “Who sends the most messages?” Then, just for fun, I asked:

“Based on this chat, describe our group dynamic as a reality show narrator.”

The result was hilarious. It labeled one friend as the “resident voice of reason,” another as the “sarcastic commentator,” and me as the “pop culture translator.” It even caught running jokes and recurring plans we never executed.

Sometimes, though, it overanalyzed humor or misread sarcasm. Still, it was one of the most entertaining ways I’ve used AI in years.

Where NotebookLM Falls Short

Despite being impressive, NotebookLM isn’t flawless. It occasionally misinterprets tone — turning jokes into serious insights or flattening emotion in emails. It’s excellent for summarizing facts and identifying patterns, but subtle context still escapes it.

Another limitation is input variety. While it handles PDFs, Google Docs, and plain text well, exporting messages from various apps can be tedious. Some formats require manual cleanup before they’re usable.

NotebookLM Helped Connect the Dots

When I first uploaded my scattered emails and chats, I expected summaries. What I got instead was clarity. NotebookLM connected ideas I hadn’t linked before, uncovered forgotten follow-ups, and highlighted recurring habits in how I communicate.

Yes, it sometimes made odd connections or misread a casual tone, but as a tool for managing information overload, it was incredibly effective. For anyone drowning in messages and notes, NotebookLM is like having a personal research assistant that actually remembers everything.