Google’s NotebookLM (formerly known as Project Tailwind) is an innovative AI tool designed to transform how you interact with your research material. It helps you turn sources like PDFs, Docs, Slides, web URLs, transcripts, and images into interactive Q&As, summaries, mind maps, study guides, and even AI-generated podcast-style audio.
Let’s explore everything you need to know about NotebookLM.
What Is Google NotebookLM?
NotebookLM is a personalized AI notebook powered by Google’s Gemini models. It allows you to create digital notebooks by uploading your own sources—then uses those sources to answer questions, generate summaries, and help you study or research more effectively.
Originally launched as Project Tailwind, it was rebranded and released to the public in 2023. As of now, it’s available in over 200 countries and supports many languages.
What It Can Do:
Upload and organize up to 50 sources per notebook
Ask complex questions and get citation-backed answers
Generate outlines, FAQs, timelines, and study guides
Create podcast-style audio discussions based on your content
Discover new content and sources by describing your topic
Key Features of NotebookLM
AI Audio Overviews
NotebookLM can generate a podcast-style audio summary of your content, narrated by two AI hosts. You can listen, download, or interact in real time with this feature.
Notebook Guide
Automatically generate study guides, outlines, timelines, FAQs, and briefing documents from your uploaded sources.
Smart Q&A
Ask NotebookLM questions and get precise answers, complete with clickable citations to the original documents.
Mind Maps
Visualize key ideas and relationships across your materials using AI-generated mind maps.
Source Discovery
Describe a topic and NotebookLM will suggest relevant documents, articles, or other resources to help you build your notebook faster.
Mobile App Support
NotebookLM is available on Android and iOS. You can access your notebooks, listen to AI audio, and upload content from your phone.
How to Use NotebookLM
Here’s a quick step-by-step guide to getting started:
Sign In: Go to NotebookLM and log in with your Google account.
Create a Notebook: Click “New Notebook” to start a project.
Add Sources: Upload Docs, PDFs, Slides, URLs, images, or transcripts.
Use the Chat Panel: Ask questions about your content and get AI-powered responses with source references.
Explore Notebook Guide: Generate summaries, outlines, FAQs, and more.
Listen to AI Audio: Tap the “Generate Audio Overview” button to turn your content into a podcast-like discussion.
Use Mind Maps: Open the mind map view to visualize how ideas connect.
Access on Mobile: Download the mobile app to work on-the-go.
Benefits of NotebookLM
Saves Time: Quickly understand complex material using summaries and audio.
Enhances Learning: Use study guides, timelines, and FAQs to grasp key concepts.
Supports Research: Ask nuanced questions and receive accurate, cited answers.
Boosts Creativity: Brainstorm and discover connections through mind maps.
Mobile Flexibility: Work from your phone or tablet anywhere, anytime.
Multilingual Support: Available in 50+ languages including Hindi, Spanish, and more.
Use Cases
Students: Summarize course material, create study aids, and listen to AI-generated lessons.
Researchers: Organize academic papers, generate insights, and track citations.
Writers: Draft outlines, brainstorm ideas, and analyze background sources.
Teachers: Create lesson plans, quizzes, and summaries for students.
Professionals: Analyze reports, generate briefs, and prepare for meetings.
What’s New and Coming
Personalized audio narration with multiple voice styles
Higher source limits and better document formatting
NotebookLM Plus: a premium version with enterprise features
Deeper integration with Google Drive and mobile sharing options
Final Thoughts
Google NotebookLM is changing how we interact with information. By blending generative AI with research tools, it enables students, professionals, and creators to unlock deeper understanding and faster insights from their personal libraries.
Whether you’re preparing for an exam, writing a report, or exploring a new topic, NotebookLM can help you stay organized, informed, and inspired—all in one place.
Start your journey with NotebookLM today and let AI power your next big idea.
In today’s digital age, managing information effectively is more important than ever. Whether you’re a student, writer, researcher, or professional, keeping track of notes, ideas, and knowledge can be a daunting task. That’s where Obsidian comes in — a powerful, flexible, and free note-taking app that’s redefining how we manage personal knowledge.
What is Obsidian?
Obsidian is a Markdown-based note-taking and knowledge management app that turns a collection of plain text files into a rich, interlinked knowledge base. It’s often described as a “second brain” — a tool to help you store, organize, and connect your thoughts over time.
Created by Shida Li and Erica Xu, Obsidian has gained popularity for its emphasis on local-first storage, backlinks, and graph-based note linking, making it perfect for building your own “personal wiki.”
Key Features of Obsidian
Markdown Support: Write your notes in plain text using Markdown.
Bidirectional Linking: Easily link notes together and see backlinks automatically.
Graph View: Visualize how your notes connect with each other in an interactive graph.
Vaults: Organize your notes in “vaults” — folders of Markdown files.
Plugins & Customization: Highly extendable through community and core plugins.
Local-First: Your notes are stored on your device — no cloud needed.
Cross-platform: Available on Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, and Android.
Click on “Create New Vault,” give it a name, and choose a folder to store your notes.
3. Create Your First Note
Click the “New Note” button.
Start typing in Markdown (# for headers, **bold**, *italic*, [[link to another note]] to connect notes).
4. Link Notes Together
Type [[ and the name of another note to create a link.
Obsidian shows backlinks—notes that link to the current one.
5. Use Graph View
Click the graph icon to view a web-like structure of your notes.
Helps visualize connections and find gaps in your thinking.
6. Install Plugins (Optional but Powerful)
Go to Settings → Core Plugins / Community Plugins.
Some popular plugins: Daily Notes, Calendar, Kanban, Templates.
Benefits of Using Obsidian
1. Local Control
Unlike cloud-based tools, your data stays on your device. You own it 100%.
2. Networked Thinking
Bidirectional links encourage you to think in webs, not just hierarchies.
3. Productivity Boost
Great for writing, journaling, task management, and project tracking.
4. Flexibility
Suitable for Zettelkasten, Personal Knowledge Management (PKM), Second Brain, or Digital Gardening.
5. Extensible Ecosystem
The plugin library allows endless customization — turn Obsidian into a task manager, a knowledge base, or even a writing studio.
6. Privacy & Security
No forced sign-ins. Keep your notes completely offline, or sync with services like iCloud, Dropbox, or Obsidian Sync (optional paid service).
Use Cases for Obsidian
Students: Organize lecture notes, link concepts together.
Writers: Draft blog posts, outline books, store research.
Developers: Document code snippets, project ideas, or architecture.
Researchers: Build a knowledge base from papers and articles.
Professionals: Track meetings, manage tasks, record goals.
Final Thoughts
Obsidian is more than just a note-taking app — it’s a tool to build your second brain, unlock your creativity, and organize your thoughts in a way that evolves with you. Whether you’re managing a complex research project or just keeping track of your daily thoughts, Obsidian offers a powerful, flexible platform to make your digital thinking clear and organized.
Start small. Write one note today. Link it to another tomorrow. Let your ideas grow like a garden.
OpenAI is an artificial intelligence research and deployment company founded in December 2015. Its mission is to ensure that artificial general intelligence (AGI) — highly autonomous systems that outperform humans at most tasks — benefits all of humanity.
Initially launched as a non-profit by tech leaders including Elon Musk, Sam Altman, and Ilya Sutskever, OpenAI later transitioned into a “capped-profit” company to attract the funding required for large-scale AI research, while still staying committed to safety and ethical goals.
OpenAI is known for its groundbreaking advancements in natural language processing, multimodal AI, and machine learning safety. It has developed world-renowned models like:
GPT (Generative Pre-trained Transformer) – Text generation models used in ChatGPT.
DALL·E – Text-to-image generation.
Codex – AI code generation.
ChatGPT – An AI assistant with conversational and problem-solving skills.
With AI rapidly becoming part of everyday life, OpenAI is at the forefront of how these systems are designed, deployed, and governed.
2015 – The Birth of OpenAI
December 11 – Founded by Elon Musk, Sam Altman, Greg Brockman, Ilya Sutskever, and others.
Vision: To build AGI in a way that is safe, transparent, and aligned with human values.
2016 – First Tools and Platforms
April – OpenAI releases Gym, a toolkit for developing reinforcement learning algorithms.
December – Launch of Universe, letting AI agents interact with environments like Flash games and web interfaces.
2018 – Advancements in Language and Games
June – Release of GPT-1, the first generation language model.
August – OpenAI Five competes in Dota 2 and defeats human semi-pro players in live matches.
2019 – GPT-2 and Microsoft Partnership
February – GPT-2 (1.5B parameters) demonstrates highly realistic text generation.
March – OpenAI transitions to a capped-profit model.
July – Microsoft invests $1 billion, beginning a multi-year partnership around AI and cloud computing.
2020 – GPT-3 and the OpenAI API
June – GPT-3 released (175B parameters); shows state-of-the-art few-shot performance across many tasks.
Launch of the OpenAI API, enabling developers to access powerful AI models via the cloud.
2021 – Codex and AI for Developers
July – Release of Codex, trained on text and code. Powers GitHub Copilot for code completion and generation.
DALL·E 1 and CLIP showcase OpenAI’s ability to connect visual and language understanding.
2022 – The ChatGPT Era Begins
January – DALL·E 2 unveiled, capable of generating photo-quality images from text.
November 30 – ChatGPT launches publicly and becomes a viral sensation, reaching 1M+ users in 5 days.
2023 – GPT-4, Voice AI, and Customization
March 14 – Release of GPT-4, featuring improved reasoning and multimodal inputs (text + image).
ChatGPT expands with:
Voice conversation
Custom GPTs
Memory
DALL·E 3 integration
2024 – Multimodal Intelligence with GPT-4o
May 13 – GPT-4o (“o” for omni) launches, supporting real-time voice, vision, and text.
Feels more like talking to a human than any previous AI.
Launch of ChatGPT desktop apps and 4o mini, a lighter-weight version for faster performance.
2025 – Agents, Infrastructure, and AI Hardware
January – Launch of Operator, an AI web agent capable of real-world task execution (e.g., booking, searching, filling forms).
March – $11.9B deal signed with CoreWeave for GPU compute power.
May – Acquisition of “io,” a hardware startup co-founded by Jony Ive, signaling a move toward AI-first consumer devices.
June – Wins a $200 million U.S. defense contract, expanding OpenAI’s enterprise and government services.
What’s Next?
OpenAI continues to push the frontier of what AI can do while promoting safety and global cooperation. Upcoming focus areas include:
Smarter AI agents capable of decision-making across platforms
In the world of digital art and 3D content creation, few tools are as versatile, powerful, and community-driven as Blender. It’s free, open-source, and used by hobbyists, professionals, and studios alike. Whether you’re interested in modeling, animation, VFX, game development, or even 2D animation, Blender has something for you.
But what exactly is Blender? How do you use it? And how can you become part of its vibrant community?
Let’s dive in.
What is Blender?
Blender is a free and open-source 3D creation suite. It supports the entire 3D pipeline, including:
Modeling
Sculpting
Texturing and Shading
Rigging and Animation
Simulation (Cloth, Smoke, Fluids, Physics)
Rendering (Cycles, Eevee)
Compositing and Motion Tracking
Video Editing
2D Animation (Grease Pencil)
Blender is licensed under the GNU General Public License (GPL), which means anyone can use, modify, and distribute it freely.
Why Blender is Special
Completely Free: No subscriptions, no watermarks, no feature lockouts.
Cross-Platform: Runs on Windows, macOS, and Linux.
All-in-One: Replace multiple apps with one powerful suite.
Community-Driven: Contributions from users and developers worldwide.
Industry Adoption: Increasingly used in studios and productions (e.g. Next Gen, Sprite Fright, Netflix’s support).
Blender is more than just a tool—it’s a movement. Its open-source foundation empowers artists to create without barriers. With continuous development, an inspiring community, and industry-grade capabilities, Blender is redefining what’s possible in digital creation.
A step-by-step guide to installing and using the powerful gated model from Hugging Face.
What is FLUX.1-schnell?
FLUX.1-schnell is a cutting-edge image generation model developed by Black Forest Labs. It builds on Hugging Face’s diffusers framework and offers high-performance, fast image synthesis — ideal for creatives, researchers, and developers alike.
However, it’s a gated model, which means you need to request access before using it.
After installation, create a file named generate_image.py with the following code:
import torch
from diffusers import FluxPipeline
pipe = FluxPipeline.from_pretrained(
"black-forest-labs/FLUX.1-schnell",
use_auth_token=True, # Uses your Hugging Face CLI login
torch_dtype=torch.bfloat16
)
pipe.enable_model_cpu_offload()
image = pipe(
prompt="A futuristic cityscape at night",
output_type="pil",
num_inference_steps=4,
generator=torch.Generator("cpu").manual_seed(42)
).images[0]
image.save("flux_image.png")
To run the script:
python3 generate_image.py
Tip: Authenticate Hugging Face Access
Run this command once to authenticate with Hugging Face:
pip install huggingface_hub
huggingface-cli login
Paste your token from: huggingface.co/settings/tokens
Result
The script will generate an image like this and save it as flux_image.png. You can customize the prompt, seed, and steps to create different styles.
Final Thoughts
FLUX.1-schnell is a powerful model that rivals other image generators in speed and quality. While access is gated, setup is straightforward, and the creative potential is huge.
Whether you’re an artist, developer, or AI enthusiast — this model is definitely worth exploring.
Here’s the official GATE 2025 Mechanical Engineering (ME) syllabus, along with key details to help you prepare effectively:
Section 1: Engineering Mathematics
Linear Algebra: Matrix algebra, systems of linear equations, eigen values and eigen vectors.
Calculus: Functions of single variable, limit, continuity and differentiability, mean value theorems,indeterminate forms; evaluation of definite and improper integrals; double and triple integrals;partial derivatives, total derivative, Taylor series (in one and two variables), maxima and minima,Fourier series; gradient, divergence and curl, vector identities, directional derivatives, line, surface and volume integrals, applications of Gauss, Stokes and Green’s theorems.
Differential Equations: First order equations (linear and nonlinear); higher order linear differential equations with constant coefficients; Euler-Cauchy equation; initial and boundary value problems; Laplace transforms; solutions of heat, wave and Laplace’s equations.
Complex Variables: Analytic functions; Cauchy-Riemann equations; Cauchy’s integral theorem and integral formula; Taylor and Laurent series.
Probability and Statistics: Definitions of probability, sampling theorems, conditional probability; mean, median, mode and standard deviation; random variables, binomial, Poisson and normal distributions.
Numerical Methods: Numerical solutions of linear and non-linear algebraic equations; integration by trapezoidal and Simpson’s rules; single and multi-step methods for differential equations.
Section 2: Applied Mechanics and Design
Engineering Mechanics: Free-body diagrams and equilibrium; friction and its applications including rolling friction, belt-pulley, brakes, clutches, screw jack, wedge, vehicles, etc.; trusses and frames; virtual work; kinematics and dynamics of rigid bodies in plane motion; impulse and momentum (linear and angular) and energy formulations; Lagrange’s equation.
Mechanics of Materials: Stress and strain, elastic constants, Poisson’s ratio; Mohr’s circle for plane stress and plane strain; thin cylinders; shear force and bending moment diagrams; bending and shear stresses; concept of shear centre; deflection of beams; torsion of circular shafts; Euler’s theory of columns; energy methods; thermal stresses; strain gauges and rosettes; testing of materials with universal testing machine; testing of hardness and impact strength.
Theory of Machines: Displacement, velocity and acceleration analysis of plane mechanisms; dynamic analysis of linkages; cams; gears and gear trains; flywheels and governors; balancing of reciprocating and rotating masses; gyroscope.
Vibrations: Free and forced vibration of single degree of freedom systems, effect of damping;vibration isolation; resonance; critical speeds of shafts.
Machine Design: Design for static and dynamic loading; failure theories; fatigue strength and the S-N diagram; principles of the design of machine elements such as bolted, riveted and welded joints; shafts, gears, rolling and sliding contact bearings, brakes and clutches, springs.
Section 3: Fluid Mechanics and Thermal Sciences
Fluid Mechanics: Fluid properties; fluid statics, forces on submerged bodies, stability of floating bodies; control-volume analysis of mass, momentum and energy; fluid acceleration; differential equations of continuity and momentum; Bernoulli’s equation; dimensional analysis; viscous flow of incompressible fluids, boundary layer, elementary turbulent flow, flow through pipes, head losses in pipes, bends and fittings; basics of compressible fluid flow.
Heat Transfer: Modes of heat transfer; one dimensional heat conduction, resistance concept and electrical analogy, heat transfer through fins; unsteady heat conduction, lumped parameter system,Heisler’s charts; thermal boundary layer, dimensionless parameters in free and forced convective heat transfer, heat transfer correlations for flow over flat plates and through pipes, effect of turbulence; heat exchanger performance, LMTD and NTU methods; radiative heat transfer, Stefan-Boltzmann law, Wien’s displacement law, black and grey surfaces, view factors, radiation network analysis.
Thermodynamics: Thermodynamic systems and processes; properties of pure substances, behavior of ideal and real gases; zeroth and first laws of thermodynamics, calculation of work and heat in various processes; second law of thermodynamics; thermodynamic property charts and tables, availability and irreversibility; thermodynamic relations.
Applications: Power Engineering: Air and gas compressors; vapour and gas power cycles,concepts of regeneration and reheat. I.C. Engines: Air-standard Otto, Diesel and dual cycles. Refrigeration and air-conditioning: Vapour and gas refrigeration and heat pump cycles; properties of moist air,psychrometric chart, basic psychrometric processes. Turbomachinery: Impulse and reaction principles, velocity diagrams, Pelton-wheel, Francis and Kaplan turbines; steam and gas turbines.
Section 4: Materials, Manufacturing and Industrial Engineering
Engineering Materials: Structure and properties of engineering materials, phase diagrams, heat treatment, stress-strain diagrams for engineering materials.
Casting, Forming and Joining Processes: Different types of castings, design of patterns, moulds and cores; solidification and cooling; riser and gating design. Plastic deformation and yield criteria;fundamentals of hot and cold working processes; load estimation for bulk (forging, rolling,extrusion, drawing) and sheet (shearing, deep drawing, bending) metal forming processes;principles of powder metallurgy. Principles of welding, brazing, soldering and adhesive bonding.
Machining and Machine Tool Operations: Mechanics of machining; basic machine tools; single and multi-point cutting tools, tool geometry and materials, tool life and wear; economics of machining; principles of non-traditional machining processes; principles of work holding, jigs and fixtures; abrasive machining processes; NC/CNC machines and CNC programming.
Metrology and Inspection: Limits, fits and tolerances; linear and angular measurements; comparators; interferometry; form and finish measurement; alignment and testing methods;tolerance analysis in manufacturing and assembly; concepts of coordinate-measuring machine(CMM).
Computer Integrated Manufacturing: Basic concepts of CAD/CAM and their integration tools;additive manufacturing.
Production Planning and Control: Forecasting models, aggregate production planning, scheduling,materials requirement planning; lean manufacturing.
Inventory Control: Deterministic models; safety stock inventory control systems.
Operations Research: Linear programming, simplex method, transportation, assignment, network flow models, simple queuing models, PERT and CPM.
Fluid Mechanics (incompressible + compressible — added in 2019)
Heat Transfer (Heisler’s charts highlighted post-2020)
4. Manufacturing and Industrial Engineering
Weightage: 25–30 marks
Topics: Engineering Materials, Metal Casting, Forming, Joining Processes, Machining and Machine Tool Operations, Metrology, CIM, Production Planning, Operations Research
Inventory Models (with Safety Stock in recent years)
Additive Manufacturing (added in 2022)
Lean Manufacturing (emphasized post-2023)
5. General Aptitude
Weightage: 15 marks
Topics: Verbal Ability, Numerical Ability
Year-wise Subject Weightage Overview
Year
Engineering Mathematics
Applied Mechanics & Design
Fluid Mechanics & Thermal Sciences
Manufacturing & Industrial Engineering
General Aptitude
2015
15
20
30
25
15
2016
13
22
28
27
15
2017
14
21
29
26
15
2018
13
23
31
24
15
2019
13
24
32
23
15
2020
13.5
23.5
32.5
23
15
2021
13
24
33
22
15
2022
13
25
34
21
15
2023
13
24.5
33.5
22
15
2024
13
24
33
23
15
2025
13
23
32
24
15
Key Observations
Engineering Mathematics: Maintains a consistent weightage of 13–15 marks across all years.
Applied Mechanics and Design: Shows a slight increase in weightage over the years, indicating its growing importance.
Fluid Mechanics & Thermal Sciences: Remains a significant portion of the exam, with a steady weightage.
Manufacturing & Industrial Engineering: Experiences fluctuations, reflecting changes in exam patterns and focus areas.
General Aptitude: Consistently holds a weightage of 15 marks.
Are you aiming to crack the GATE Mechanical Engineering (ME) exam? Whether your goal is a top PSU job, admission to premier IITs/NITs, or a solid GATE score, this guide will walk you through everything — from syllabus breakdown to study strategies, book recommendations, and time management.
What is the GATE Exam?
The Graduate Aptitude Test in Engineering (GATE) is a national-level competitive exam that tests the understanding of engineering concepts across various disciplines. GATE ME is one of the most popular and competitive papers due to its broad applications in government jobs and higher studies.
Exam Pattern for GATE ME
Before diving into preparation, it’s crucial to understand the exam format:
Total Marks: 100
Duration: 3 hours
Question Types: MCQ, MSQ, NAT
Sections:
General Aptitude: 15 marks
Engineering Mathematics: ~13–15 marks
Mechanical Core Subjects: ~70 marks
Important Subjects & Weightage
Here’s a breakdown of the key subjects and their approximate weightage based on past year trends:
Subject
Approx. Weightage
Engineering Mathematics
13–15 marks
Strength of Materials (SOM)
7–9 marks
Theory of Machines (TOM)
6–8 marks
Machine Design
2–3 marks
Fluid Mechanics (FM)
6–8 marks
Thermodynamics & Heat Transfer
10–12 marks
Manufacturing Engineering
10–12 marks
Industrial Engineering
3–5 marks
6-Month Study Plan for GATE ME
Here’s a realistic 6-month preparation plan, assuming you start from scratch:
Months 1–2: Foundation Building
Focus on: Engineering Mathematics, SOM, TOM
Watch lectures or read standard books
Start solving topic-wise questions after each concept
Months 3–4: Core Subjects
Focus on: Thermodynamics, Fluid Mechanics, HMT, Machine Design
Daily practice is a must
Make concise notes for formulas and tricks
Month 5: Remaining Subjects + Revision
Complete: Manufacturing, Industrial Engineering
Begin revising old subjects regularly
Start light test series (subject-wise tests)
Month 6: Full Mock Tests + Final Revision
Attempt full-length mock tests every 3–4 days
Analyze your performance: accuracy, time usage, and weak areas
Revise notes and formula sheets thoroughly
Best Books for GATE Mechanical Engineering
Here are some must-have books for each subject:
Subject
Recommended Book
Thermodynamics
P.K. Nag / Cengel
Strength of Materials
Gere & Timoshenko / B.C. Punmia
Theory of Machines
S.S. Rattan
Fluid Mechanics
R.K. Bansal / Cengel
Heat Transfer
J.P. Holman
Machine Design
V.B. Bhandari
Manufacturing
P.N. Rao / Amitabh Ghosh
Industrial Engineering
O.P. Khanna
Engineering Mathematics
B.S. Grewal
General Aptitude
Made Easy Handbook / RS Aggarwal
Practice & Mock Tests
Solve previous 10–15 years’ GATE ME papers
Join a reputed test series (e.g., Made Easy, ACE Academy, Exergic)
Maintain an error log and revisit difficult topics
Focus on both accuracy and speed
Tips to Maximize Your Score
Don’t ignore Engineering Mathematics and General Aptitude — they’re scoring sections!
Make formula sheets and short notes for every subject
Revise regularly to retain formulas and concepts
Stay consistent and avoid last-minute cramming
Final Thoughts
Preparing for GATE ME is a journey that demands patience, discipline, and smart strategy. Stick to your plan, focus on conceptual clarity, and keep testing yourself regularly. Whether you’re targeting IITs, NITs, or PSUs, this plan will set you on the right track.