Deep Research via NotebookLM

Research $ARGUMENTS deeply using the NotebookLM MCP server and deliver a structured research brief. Optionally generate studio artifacts (slides, audio podcasts, videos, infographics, reports, mind maps) from the research.

Prerequisites

NotebookLM MCP server must be configured. Install via: nlm setup add claude-code
If NotebookLM MCP tools are not available, tell the user to run the setup command and restart their session.

Research Workflow

Step 1: Define Scope

Determine the research type based on the user's request:

| Type | Focus | |------|-------| | Market Research | Industry trends, market sizing, opportunities, TAM/SAM/SOM | | Competitive Intel | Competitor analysis, positioning gaps, feature comparisons | | Client/Prospect Research | Company background, pain points, decision makers, recent news | | Trend Analysis | Technology trends, adoption patterns, forecasts, emerging players | | Proposal Research | Background for proposals, sector-specific data, case studies | | Academic/Technical | Papers, frameworks, methodologies, state of the art |

Tell the user what you plan to research and confirm the angle:

"I'll research [topic]. My angle: [specific focus]. I'll investigate: [2-3 specific questions]. Sound right, or should I adjust?"

Wait for confirmation before proceeding.

Step 2: Create NotebookLM Notebook

Use notebook_create to create a notebook named: Research: [Topic] - [YYYY-MM-DD]

Step 3: Add Context Sources

Use source_add to seed the notebook with relevant context:

Add any URLs the user provides (articles, company pages, reports)
Add any documents or files the user references
Add text summaries of relevant background if no URLs are available
If researching a company, add their website, LinkedIn, recent press

Step 4: Run Research

Use research_start with a well-crafted query based on the topic and context.

Mode selection:

Default: "fast" (~60 seconds, ~10 sources) -- good for most queries
Use "deep" only if the user explicitly asks for exhaustive research (can take 10+ minutes and may stall at 0 sources)

Tip: Run direct WebSearch calls in parallel with NotebookLM for faster initial data gathering while the research engine works.

Poll research_status until complete. Use the query parameter as fallback matching -- task IDs can change between research_start and research_status calls.

Step 5: Import Discovered Sources

Use research_import to bring discovered sources into the notebook for deeper analysis.

Step 6: Query for Insights

Use notebook_query to ask 3-5 targeted questions based on the research type:

Overview: "What are the key findings about [topic]?"
Opportunities: "What opportunities or gaps exist in this space?"
Actions: "What are the most actionable insights from this research?"
Risks: "What are the main risks, challenges, or counterarguments?"
Custom: A question specific to the research type (e.g., "Who are the top 5 competitors and how do they differentiate?" for competitive intel)

Step 7: Write Research Brief

Save the findings to a local file using the research brief template:

File path: research/[topic-slug]-[YYYY-MM-DD].md

Use the template from research-brief-template.md to structure the output. Create the research/ directory if it does not exist.

Step 8: Present Takeaways

After saving, present the user with:

3-5 headline findings (bullets, direct, no filler)
1-2 recommended actions connected to the user's stated goals
Surprises or contrarian findings -- anything that challenges assumptions
The file path where the full brief is saved
The NotebookLM notebook URL so the user can explore sources directly

Step 9 (Optional): Generate Studio Artifacts

Ask the user: "Want me to generate any artifacts from this research? Options: slides, audio (podcast), video, infographic, report, mind map."

If yes, use studio_create with the notebook_id from Step 2.

Available artifact types and recommended settings:

| Type | Key params | Best for | |------|-----------|----------| | slide_deck | slide_format: detailed_deck or presenter_slides; slide_length: short or default | Executive presentations, client pitches | | audio | audio_format: deep_dive, brief, critique, or debate; audio_length: short, default, long | Podcast-style deep dives, learning on the go | | video | video_format: explainer, brief, cinematic; visual_style: auto_select, classic, whiteboard, etc. | Visual explainers, social media content | | infographic | orientation: landscape, portrait, square; infographic_style: professional, bento_grid, etc. | One-pagers, social sharing | | report | report_format: Briefing Doc, Study Guide, Blog Post, Create Your Own | Written deliverables, summaries | | mind_map | title | Visual knowledge mapping |

Common params for all artifact types:

language: Set to the user's preferred language (e.g., "en", "es", "pt")
focus_prompt: A clear directive about what to emphasize in the artifact
confirm: Must be true to proceed with generation

After creating an artifact:

Poll studio_status until completed (audio/video: 5-15 min; slides/infographics: 2-5 min)
Use download_artifact to save locally if needed
Provide the notebook URL so the user can access artifacts directly

Tips:

audio with deep_dive format produces the best podcast-style analysis
slide_deck with detailed_deck format works best for standalone reading; presenter_slides is better when accompanied by speaker notes
Audio status may show "unknown" once completed -- check for audio_url presence instead of waiting for a "completed" status

Notes

Fast mode is recommended as the default. Deep mode is powerful but can take 10+ minutes and occasionally stalls.
Always confirm the research scope with the user before starting -- a well-scoped query produces dramatically better results.
The research brief template ensures consistent, actionable output across all research types.

Additional Resources

research-brief-template.md -- Template for structuring research brief output

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