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Map a complex topic with Gemini Notebook Mind Maps

Turn 3 to 5 sources on a hard topic into a mind map in Gemini Notebook, then question each branch and share the map, in about 20 minutes.

By Recaply EditorsBeginner20 min6 stepsUpdated

A small tree of paper cards on thin branches grows from a round base, with a pencil beside it

What you need

Mind Maps work in a web browser. The Gemini Notebook mobile app doesn't support them yet.

  1. Step 1: Gather sources from different angles

    5 min

    A map can only show what its sources cover, so mix formats and points of view.

    1. Go to notebook.google.com, select Create new notebook, then Upload a source.
    2. Add 3 to 5 sources, such as a paper, an explainer article and a recorded lecture.
    3. Short on sources? Type the topic in the search box in the Sources panel, choose Web, and import the best results.

    You should see your sources in the Sources panel, each with a checkbox next to it.

    A YouTube link won't import?

    Only public videos with captions work, and videos posted in the last 72 hours may fail. Try another video, or paste its transcript as text.

  2. Step 2: Pick what the map covers

    2 min

    Gemini Notebook works from the sources you leave checked, so this sets the map's scope.

    1. In the Sources panel, check the sources you want on the map and uncheck the rest.
    2. Want a map of one document? Leave only that one checked.

    You should see only the sources you picked still checked.

  3. Step 3: Generate the Mind Map

    3 min

    One click turns your sources into a branching map of topics and subtopics.

    1. In the Studio panel, select Mind Map. You can also select the Mind Map chip in the chat.
    2. Wait for the new note to appear in the Studio panel, then open it.

    You should see your main topic in the middle, with branches for the big themes in your sources.

    The map is too broad to be useful?

    Uncheck the sources that drift off topic. Then open the map's More menu, select Delete note, and generate it again.

  4. Step 4: Explore the branches

    5 min

    Opening one branch at a time shows you the big picture before the details.

    1. Expand a branch to see its subtopics, and collapse the ones you've finished.
    2. Zoom and scroll to move around a large map.
    3. Select any node to ask the chat about that topic.
    4. Select Save to note on answers worth keeping.

    You should see a chat answer about the node you picked, with citations to your sources.

    A branch doesn't match what you read?

    Hover over the citations in the chat answer to read the source text. Mind Maps can be wrong, so trust the source over the map.

  5. Step 5: Compare what your sources say

    3 min

    Seeing where sources clash shows you which parts of the topic are still open.

    1. Pick a branch that more than one source talks about.
    2. Paste the prompt below into the chat, with the branch name in place of the brackets.
    Your prompt
    For [BRANCH TOPIC], compare what each of my sources says. List where they agree, where they disagree, and which source gives the strongest evidence. Cite each point.

    You should see a list of agreements and disagreements, each tied to a source.

    Every point cites the same source?

    The other sources may not cover this branch. Pick a branch that shows up in several sources, or add a source that covers it.

  6. Step 6: Share or download the map

    2 min

    A shared notebook keeps the map and its sources together, while a download is a copy for slides or notes.

    1. To share, select Share, add people by email as Viewer or Editor, and send them the link.
    2. To keep a copy, open the map and select Download in its top right corner.

    You should see the notebook shared with your study group, or the map saved as a file.

    The map won't download?

    Notebooks with a Play Books ebook as a source may block downloads. Share the whole notebook instead, and the map shows in their Studio panel.

You get

A mind map of a hard topic that you can click through, question and share

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