- NotebookLM has integrated Nano Banana Pro into its new infographic and slideshow tools
- The AI image creator turns your search into rich images with captions
- The workflow allows you to design complex, publication-ready images without leaving your laptop.
Google’s NotebookLM has added new options to return to search, infographics and presentations. The platform uses the new AI Nano Banana Pro image model to create infographics and images, a major success for multimodal AI tools. and a surprisingly elegant fusion of research and design.
Nano Banana Pro is designed to compile accurate and detailed information in visual formats, accurately reproduce text in images, and be consistent across all styles and formats. After seeing the power of Nano Banana Pro, I decided to try to create infographics and images with a topic full of accessible information: King Arthur and the legends that arose around him. I wanted to see how successful NotebookLM was in transforming ancient British myths into modern visual storytelling.
Infographics
I started with some infographic suggestions. I first asked for a comparison between the early stories of King Arthur and the wider myth that emerged later. I then asked for a timeline of King Arthur and Merlin’s character development.
Nano Banana Pro and NotebookLM do an excellent job of drawing a direct visual and thematic line between the earliest known versions of the Arthurian myth (ca. 800-950 AD) and the more elaborate medieval romances (1136-1485 AD). The infographic shows how the dark, warlike and primal myth becomes lush, polite and full of other iconic elements. Overall, the text was readable, but there were a few issues that required a few iterations to resolve.
For this second infographic, I wanted to take a tour through historical periods and show how Arthur and Merlin’s appearance and roles have evolved over time. You can see how both have been repeated over the centuries, each time appearing completely different and given a new title and description each time. Transitions in time are not only visual; They are thematic. Each pair reflects the politics, morals and aesthetics of the time. That Nano Banana Pro managed to keep the characters consistent during the transition from medieval to cyberpunk is nothing short of remarkable.
Sliding deck
For the slideshow, I asked the AI to represent the Arthurian myth cycle in different historical phases, from its original form to the 21st century. After a few minutes, NotebookLM was revealed. arturo the infinite reflection. I’ve included some sample images above, but these are just a few of the 15 images created by NotebookLM and Nano Banana Pro.
Although the result was not perfect, it gave the impression of a complete multimedia lecture series that needed only minor revision and updating. This lavishly illustrated and thematically coherent visual essay uses imagery, historical framing, and myth analysis with astonishing sophistication.
The opening image immediately sets the tone: a collage of Arthurian faces, from the medieval scroll king to the anime knight, from the sinister warlord to the resplendent sci-fi paladin, organized around the powerful statement “THERE IS NO KING ARTHUR.” It’s a statement of intent built into the design, announcing the game’s thesis with more confidence than most contrived opening images.
What’s most striking is how the Nano Banana Pro easily switches between styles in the service of meaning. A medieval-style frieze depicts Arthur’s rise, reign and fall with precise narrative rhythms. Chrétien de Troye’s transformation of Arthur’s court into a love machine is then presented as an extended triptych, before finally presenting a full-length comic spectacle, exploring Arthur as a superhero with bright sci-fi colors and sharp panels.
Most importantly, this presentation shows how Nano Banana Pro in NotebookLM changes the way searches are performed. Instead of a text-filled sketch or brainstorming board, the card game becomes a sophisticated argument that can be presented with a little extra work.
Add the appropriate banana…er…AI ingredient
NotebookLM always seemed the most promising of Google’s Gemini-based experiments. But until recently it was about summarizing and citing, by a lovely research assistant. Nano Banana Pro makes it a powerful visual storytelling partner.
The infographics and presentation are visually appealing and structured in a way that is logical, if not flawless. There is room for human refinement. But it’s a very tempting set of tools for those without an eye or talent for design.
The ability to gather important information and then request opinions takes much of the workload off your shoulders. It’s the difference between writing notes for a presentation and leaving the room when the presentation is already done. It’s magic that even Merlin would appreciate (at least in some forms).