KastorFlowUpdated November 6, 2026
Automate NotebookLM, so the upkeep happens on its own
A trigger, then the steps. For Gemini Notebook, formerly NotebookLM.
Gemini Notebook has no automations of its own. KastorFlow adds them: choose what starts an automation, such as a source being imported or a schedule, then the steps that follow, in order, such as tag it with AI, move it to a folder or send new flashcards to Anki. There are 10 triggers and 16 actions, and automations run while Chrome is open. Anything that adds sources from a search or a refresh waits for your approval first. Automations are on Pro and Pro+.
How an automation works
Every automation is one sentence: when this happens, do these steps. The trigger hands over what it knows, such as the source that was just imported, and each step uses that or what an earlier step made.
Most steps just run. A few steps change your notebooks in ways you'd want to check first, so they stop and wait under Waiting for you on the Automate page until you approve. An approval waits up to 14 days.
Each automation has Run now to test it, Pause, and History, which lists each run and what it did. Pause all stops everything at once.
Automations worth setting up first
File new research as it arrives
When a source is imported (only from arxiv.org, say) → AI-tag it → Move to folder "Papers".
The trigger can be narrowed to one notebook, one website, or text in the source's address or title. AI-tag it uses the tag list you already have, and skips sources it has tagged before. It counts toward AI tagging of new imports: 50 sources a month on Pro and Pro+.
Keep web sources fresh
On a schedule (every day at 7:00) → Refresh notebook sources.
The step checks the notebook's web pages and makes a plan of what changed. Then it waits for your approval. By default it keeps the old copy; it deletes the old one only if you approve that after the new copy is checked. Only web pages can be refreshed this way.
New flashcards straight into Anki
When a Studio artifact is generated (in your course notebook) → Send flashcards to Anki.
You still make the flashcards in Gemini Notebook; the automation does the sending. Anki must be open with AnkiConnect set up, and the first time you allow this automation to send to Anki. Cards the deck already has are skipped. Flashcards to Anki
Every Audio Overview becomes an episode draft
When an Audio Overview is generated → Create podcast episode for your show.
The draft lands on the Podcast page in the show you chose. It isn't public until you publish it there. Audio Overviews as a podcast
On Pro+: a notebook that keeps itself complete
On a schedule → Run quality audit → Add sources for the gaps.
The audit finds the kinds of source the notebook is thin on, and the second step finds candidates to fill them. Nothing is added until you approve it. What the audit checks
The 10 triggers
| Trigger | Options and notes |
|---|---|
| When a source is imported | Optional: one notebook, one website, text in the address or the title. |
| When a tag is added | Choose the tag to watch for. |
| On a schedule | Daily, weekly, or every so often, at least 15 minutes apart. A missed run while Chrome was closed runs once when it's back. |
| When a YouTube collection import finishes | Optional: one notebook. |
| When a notebook build finishes | After KastorFlow builds a research notebook. Optional: one notebook. |
| When a quality audit finishes | Hands over the audit's findings. Optional: one notebook. |
| When a Studio artifact is generated | Any Studio output, such as flashcards or a report. Optional: one notebook. |
| When an Audio Overview is generated | Optional: one notebook. |
| When a podcast episode finishes | Hands over the episode, its show and its audio. |
| When a Readwise sync finishes | Needs a Readwise connection, which is on Pro+. |
The 16 actions
| Group | Actions | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Organize | AI-tag it · Add tags · Remove tag · Move to folder · Create note from template | Templates are made in Sources with Save as Template. |
| Collect | Import sources · Import YouTube collection | From a list of links, open tabs, a spreadsheet file or a feed; YouTube as one combined source or one per video. |
| Keep current | Refresh notebook sources | Waits for your approval. |
| Research (Pro+) | Build notebook · Run quality audit · Add sources for the gaps | Notebook autopilot. Adding sources waits for your approval. |
| Podcast | Create podcast episode · Replace episode audio · Add episode to feed · Remove episode from feed | Drafts and show membership only; publishing stays with you. |
| Connect | Send flashcards to Anki | Anki must be open on your computer. |
What automations can't do yet
- Publish or unpublish a podcast episode. Those put audio in front of the public, so they stay a click you make yourself.
- Make flashcards or Audio Overviews on their own. You start those in Gemini Notebook; an automation can react when they're done.
- Post to Slack or Discord. Those steps aren't switched on yet.
One more honest note: if Chrome restarts in the middle of Create note from template, the step runs again and may make a second note. History marks the run so you can check.
Set one up
- In KastorFlow, open Automate and choose New automation. Start from a preset, or pick a trigger.
- Fill in the trigger's options, then pick the actions. They run in the order you add them; Move earlier and Move later change it.
- Fill in what each step asks for, such as the destination folder or the podcast show, and save.
- Choose Run now to try it, then open History to see what it did.
Ready-made automations to start from: Autotag new imports, Tag by title, File by website, File by tag, Note from template, Refresh daily, Import YouTube on a schedule, Audio to episode and Publish to feed, which adds each finished episode to a show. On Pro+ there are also Build a topic notebook and Audit a notebook.
Plan
Automations, the ready-made ones, podcast on autopilot and scheduled refresh are on Pro and Pro+. They aren't on Free.
Notebook autopilot, which builds, audits and fills gaps on a schedule, is on Pro+: the Build notebook, Run quality audit and Add sources for the gaps steps need it. So does the Readwise trigger, because Readwise is a Pro+ connection. AI tagging of new imports covers 50 sources a month on both plans. Compare plans
More: Audit and enrich · Keep sources up to date · Folders in Gemini Notebook · A YouTube playlist · NotebookLM MCP
Let the imports, tags and refreshes happen on their own.
Add to ChromeQuestions
Can you automate NotebookLM?
Gemini Notebook, NotebookLM's new name, has no automations of its own. KastorFlow, a Chrome extension, adds them: pick a trigger, such as a source being imported or a schedule, then the steps to run, such as tag it with AI, move it to a folder, refresh the notebook's web sources or send flashcards to Anki. There are 10 triggers and 16 actions.
Does Chrome need to be open?
Yes. KastorFlow's automations run inside the extension, so they run while Chrome is open, scheduled ones included. If Chrome was closed when a schedule was due, it runs once when Chrome is back, not once for every time it missed.
Do automations add sources without asking?
Not when they search or refresh. Adding sources for the gaps an audit found, and refreshing a notebook's web sources, wait for your approval under Waiting for you on the Automate page. An import step you set up yourself, from your own list of links or a YouTube playlist, adds what you told it to.
Can an automation publish podcast episodes?
No. It can draft an episode from a new Audio Overview and add it to a show. Publishing and unpublishing stay with you, on the Podcast page.
Which plan includes automations?
Automations are on KastorFlow's Pro and Pro+ plans, not Free. The Build notebook, Run quality audit and Add sources for the gaps steps are notebook autopilot and need Pro+, as does the Readwise trigger. AI tagging of new imports covers 50 sources a month on Pro and Pro+. Compare plans