Deep Research Notebooklm

# 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: 1. **Overview**: "What are the key findings about [topic]?" 2. **Opportunities**: "What opportunities or gaps exist in this space?" 3. **Actions**: "What are the most actionable insights from this research?" 4. **Risks**: "What are the main risks, challenges, or counterarguments?" 5. **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](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:** 1. Poll `studio_status` until `completed` (audio/video: 5-15 min; slides/infographics: 2-5 min) 2. Use `download_artifact` to save locally if needed 3. 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](research-brief-template.md) -- Template for structuring research brief output