Brandwave

NotebookLM vs Semantic Scholar:Which is more popular?

In September 2026, NotebookLM had more branded searches than Semantic Scholar among AI research assistants worldwide. NotebookLM had about 24.5 million branded searches, while Semantic Scholar had 301,000. NotebookLM made up 60.8% of all AI research assistant searches we track, and Semantic Scholar accounted for 0.75%. When we asked ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews about AI research assistants, NotebookLM appeared in four of the five answers and Semantic Scholar in one. NotebookLM was mentioned before Semantic Scholar in four out of five answers.

Among AI research assistants worldwide in September 2026

Who do people search for more?

NotebookLM, about 81 searches for every 1 for Semantic Scholar

NotebookLM 24.5M searchesSemantic Scholar 301K searches

Who does AI mention more?

NotebookLM, mentioned in 4 of 5 answers, Semantic Scholar in 1

NotebookLM in 4 of 5Semantic Scholar in 1 of 5

Who does AI recommend more?

NotebookLM, named ahead of Semantic Scholar in 4 of 5 answers

NotebookLM first in 4Semantic Scholar first in 1

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Top AI research assistants in ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews

In three ChatGPT questions and two Google AI Overviews, NotebookLM was mentioned in four out of five: in all three ChatGPT answers and in one of the two Google AI Overviews. Semantic Scholar was mentioned in one out of five: not in any of the three ChatGPT answers, but in one of the two Google AI Overviews. NotebookLM was listed before Semantic Scholar in four out of five answers.

Most recommended by AI

Brands get a higher ranking if they are mentioned earlier in the answers.

  1. Elicit1st
  2. Perplexity2nd
  3. NotebookLM3rd
  4. Consensus4th
  5. Scite5th
  6. Semantic Scholar6th

Mentioned by AI

Each dot is one answer, filled in when that answer mentions the brand.

  • Elicit5 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
  • NotebookLM4 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
  • Consensus4 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
  • Perplexity3 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
  • Scite3 of 5Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
  • Semantic Scholar1 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers

See every answer about AI research assistants

5 answers

Brands are shown in the order each answer named them. The survey took place in the United States on October 19, 2026.

Is NotebookLM or Semantic Scholar more popular in search?

This chart shows how often people search Google for NotebookLM and Semantic Scholar by name. Each line represents a brand's share of searches for all six AI research assistants we track, month by month, from English-language searches worldwide.

NotebookLM and Semantic Scholar among AI research assistants worldwide, by month

Share of searches by month for NotebookLM, Semantic Scholar. The figures are in the table below the chart.

View monthly share of searches table
MonthNotebookLMPerplexityConsensusElicitSemantic ScholarScite
Oct 202523%73%2.2%1.1%0.58%0.12%
Nov 202530.6%65.1%2.6%0.99%0.54%0.13%
Dec 202542.1%53.8%2.5%0.95%0.52%0.13%
Jan 202649.7%45.8%2.8%1.1%0.5%0.12%
Feb 202649.9%45.6%2.6%1.1%0.62%0.12%
Mar 202653.3%41.8%2.8%1.2%0.8%0.11%
Apr 202658.3%37.1%2.8%1.1%0.59%0.1%
May 202662.7%32.7%3%0.94%0.52%0.08%
Jun 202662.6%32.7%3.3%0.94%0.42%0.08%
Jul 202660.3%34.6%3.2%1.1%0.63%0.08%
Aug 202660.8%33.7%3.6%1.1%0.61%0.1%
Sep 202660.8%33.4%3.8%1.1%0.75%0.12%

How has the NotebookLM and Semantic Scholar comparison changed over the last 12 months?

3 findings

How did search popularity change for AI research assistants worldwide in September 2026?

1 change

  1. Estimated monthly branded searches for NotebookLM worldwide rose 106.1% over 12 measured months, from 11.9M to 24.5M in September 2026.

How are branded searches counted?

3 search terms

Brandwave collects information about searches that people make online using NotebookLM’s and Semantic Scholar’s names. When viewed over time, estimated search volumes for these branded terms can be used to understand whether interest in the brands is growing, holding steady, or fading.

NotebookLM

2 branded search terms

  • notebook lm
  • notebooklm

Semantic Scholar

1 branded search term

  • semanticscholar

How the Brand Demand Index is measured

Other head-to-heads among AI research assistants

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