- NotebookLM has integrated Nano Banana Pro into its new slideshow and infographic tools
- AI image maker turns research into polished graphics with captions
- The workflow allows you to design complex, publish-ready graphics without having to leave your laptop.
Google’s NotebookLM has added a couple of new options to reinvent research, infographics, and slideshows. The platform is turning to the new Nano Banana Pro imaging AI model to produce infographics and slideshows, a big moment for multimodal AI tools. and a strikingly elegant fusion of research and design.
Nano Banana Pro is designed to synthesize accurate, informed information into visual formats, correctly represent text within images, and be consistent across styles and formats. Having seen the power of Nano Banana Pro, I decided to put infographic and slide creation to the test using a topic with a lot of information available, King Arthur and the legends that grew up around him. I wanted to see how well NotebookLM did at turning ancient British myth into modern visual storytelling.
Infographics
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I started with a couple of infographic suggestions. First, I asked to see a comparison between the early stories of King Arthur and the more complete myth created later. I then asked to see a timeline of how the characters of King Arthur and Merlin have evolved.
Nano Banana Pro and NotebookLM did a great job of drawing a direct visual and thematic line between the earliest known versions of the Arthurian myth (around 800–950 AD) and the more elaborate medieval romances (1136–1485 AD). The infographic shows that the brave, warrior and primitive myth becomes exuberant, courteous and full of additional iconic elements. The text was mostly readable, but had some issues that would require a few iterations to fix.
For this second infographic, I wanted a journey through historical eras, showing how Arthur and Merlin’s appearances and roles have evolved over time. You can see them repeated throughout the ages, looking very different each time and getting a new title and description each time. Transitions through time are not just visual; They are thematic. Each pair reflects the politics, morals and aesthetics of the time. The fact that Nano Banana Pro was able to maintain character consistency while switching between medievalism and cyberpunk is, frankly, remarkable.
Slide Decks
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For the slides, I asked the AI to represent the Arthurian myth cycle at different historical stages, from its original form to the 21st century. After a few minutes, NotebookLM introduced Arthur the Endless Reflection. I’ve included some sample images above, but they are just a few of the 15 slides created by NotebookLM and Nano Banana Pro.
Although imperfect, the result gave the impression of a complete multimedia lecture series that only needed a little revision and adjustment. The richly illustrated and thematically coherent visual essay used imagery, historical framing, and myth analysis with surprising sophistication.
The opening slide instantly sets the tone: a collage of Arthurian faces, from the medieval manuscript king to the anime knight, the grim warlord to the brilliant sci-fi paladin, are organized around the blunt statement “THERE IS NO KING ARTHUR.” It’s a mission statement built into the design and announces the deck’s thesis more confidently than most human-made opening slides.
What stood out most was how the Nano Banana Pro moved easily between styles in the service of meaning. A medieval-style frieze shows Arthur rising, ruling and falling in orderly narrative rhythms. Chrétien de Troyes’s transformation of Arthur’s court into a romantic machine is then shown as an ornate triptych before finally showing a full comic spectacle, using bright sci-fi colors and sharp panels to examine Arthur as a superhero.
More than anything, what this presentation demonstrates is how Nano Banana Pro in NotebookLM changes the way research feels. Instead of a text-filled outline or brainstorming board, the presentation becomes a polished argument ready to present with just a little extra work.
Add the correct banana…uh…AI ingredient
NotebookLM has always felt like the most promising of Google’s Gemini-powered experiments. But until recently, it was all about syntheses and citations, a glorified research assistant. Nano Banana Pro makes it a powerful visual storytelling companion.
The infographics and slides are visually appealing and structured in a way that makes a lot of sense, although not without flaws. There is room for human refinement. But it is a very attractive set of tools for those who lack an eye or talent for design.
Being able to gather important information and then request visualizations relieves a lot of pressure. It’s the difference between writing notes for a presentation and leaving the room with the presentation already done. It’s a magic that Merlin (at least in some forms) might also appreciate.
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