# Supercharging Your Learning with AI for Better Notes And Learning with ChatGPT and Obsidian ![](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/IKbTC7Di4tQ/maxresdefault.jpg) ## Introduction [(00:00:00)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IKbTC7Di4tQ&t=0s) - Hundreds of hours were spent researching and experimenting with AI to explore its potential for learning and note-taking [(00:00:00)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IKbTC7Di4tQ&t=0s). - The goal of this video is to share effective prompts and workflows for overcoming information overwhelm, extracting insights, and making connections to existing notes [(00:00:07)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IKbTC7Di4tQ&t=7s). - The video will provide ready-to-use prompts for free, along with example use cases and extra prompts for applying learned information to create content and start projects [(00:00:27)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IKbTC7Di4tQ&t=27s). - This video is the second part of a three-part series on using AI in a "second brain," with the first video covering the setup of [[ChatGPT]] and personalized AI inside [[Obsidian (software) | Obsidian]] [(00:00:41)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IKbTC7Di4tQ&t=41s). - The series aims to demonstrate how AI can be integrated into the knowledge management process, starting with capturing information [(00:01:02)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IKbTC7Di4tQ&t=62s). - The video will cover how AI can assist in the initial stages of the knowledge management process [(00:00:58)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IKbTC7Di4tQ&t=58s). ## Summarizing content [(00:01:06)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IKbTC7Di4tQ&t=66s) - There is an infinite amount of content to consume, but a limited amount of time, making it necessary to filter out irrelevant or shallow content, and AI can be used to make a summary of the content to determine its worth [(00:01:07)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IKbTC7Di4tQ&t=67s). - When considering watching a [[YouTube]] video that may be more entertainment than useful information, AI can be used to summarize the content and provide a list of key takeaways [(00:01:22)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IKbTC7Di4tQ&t=82s). - To summarize content, the transcript of a YouTube video can be copied and pasted into [[ChatGPT]], along with a prompt to provide a detailed and complete summary of the content as a list of key takeaways formatted with dashes [(00:01:39)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IKbTC7Di4tQ&t=99s). - The resulting summary provides a more holistic view of the content, bypassing potential clickbait and allowing for a more informed decision on whether to watch the video or not [(00:01:59)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IKbTC7Di4tQ&t=119s). - It's essential to recognize that prompts can be customized to individual needs, and in this case, an extra line could be added to exclude sponsorships or advertisements from the summary [(00:02:19)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IKbTC7Di4tQ&t=139s). - Customizing the prompt allows for a more tailored summary that meets specific requirements and excludes irrelevant information [(00:02:23)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IKbTC7Di4tQ&t=143s). ## Filtering content based on our goal/objective [(00:02:32)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IKbTC7Di4tQ&t=152s) - Filtering content based on a specific goal or objective can be useful for relevance, especially when working on a particular project or question in mind [(00:02:33)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IKbTC7Di4tQ&t=153s). - Including the main question or objective in the prompt can help filter out key takeaways and narrow down the content to what is most relevant [(00:02:47)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IKbTC7Di4tQ&t=167s). - Providing a clear objective, such as "finding out how to live a meaningful and fulfilling life," can help AI tools like [[ChatGPT | ChatGBT]] tailor the content to fit specific criteria [(00:02:49)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IKbTC7Di4tQ&t=169s). - By narrowing down the content based on the provided criteria, users can then decide if they want to further explore certain topics or ideas [(00:03:02)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IKbTC7Di4tQ&t=182s). ## Filtering content based on our 12 favorite problems [(00:03:07)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IKbTC7Di4tQ&t=187s) - Filtering content through personal interests can help find relevance and nurture curiosity for certain topics or questions, and in this case, the interests are 12 favorite problems that are open-ended questions one is most curious about and wants to find relevant ideas or answers for [(00:03:17)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IKbTC7Di4tQ&t=197s). - These 12 favorite problems are used to filter content in ChatGPT, where the AI is prompted to analyze content and explain which ideas are most relevant to each problem in bullet point form [(00:03:53)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IKbTC7Di4tQ&t=233s). - The prompt for [[ChatGPT]] includes the 12 favorite problems and a request to analyze content for each problem, and due to the detailed prompt, the AI is able to provide surprisingly well results [(00:04:12)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IKbTC7Di4tQ&t=252s). - ChatGPT uses the presentation style and stories of the content creator to answer questions, which is a notable feature of this method [(00:04:19)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IKbTC7Di4tQ&t=259s). - However, there is an incompatibility issue when the question is related to investments, as the answer will always be sponsorships [(00:04:30)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IKbTC7Di4tQ&t=270s). - This method of filtering content through 12 favorite problems helps to find relevant ideas and answers, and can be used to supercharge learning and note-taking [(00:04:35)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IKbTC7Di4tQ&t=275s). ## Understanding the content you consume [(00:04:36)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IKbTC7Di4tQ&t=276s) - Consuming content can be challenging, particularly when trying to make sense of new ideas, and often leads to re-reading the text or searching for more complicated descriptions online [(00:04:37)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IKbTC7Di4tQ&t=277s). - To overcome this, AI can be utilized to provide personalized explanations of complex concepts, allowing for a deeper understanding of the material [(00:04:51)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IKbTC7Di4tQ&t=291s). - By asking AI to explain a concept from a different perspective, individuals can gain a better grasp of the idea, as seen in the example of using [[ChatGPT]] to explain mental models and systems thinking in terms relatable to a gamer [(00:04:56)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IKbTC7Di4tQ&t=296s). - This approach enables individuals to ask follow-up questions until they fully comprehend the concept, making the learning process more efficient [(00:05:25)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IKbTC7Di4tQ&t=325s). - AI explanations can be tailored to an individual's identity, specific use case, or even explained from first principles, allowing for a more personalized learning experience [(00:05:33)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IKbTC7Di4tQ&t=333s). - Additionally, AI can explain complex concepts in simpler terms, such as explaining a concept to a five-year-old, making it more accessible to a wider range of learners [(00:05:35)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IKbTC7Di4tQ&t=335s). - By leveraging the power of AI as a personal tutor, individuals can create a set of highlights that resonate with them on a personal level, enhancing their learning experience [(00:05:41)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IKbTC7Di4tQ&t=341s). ## Reformatting your notes [(00:05:49)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IKbTC7Di4tQ&t=349s) - Notes are sometimes taken in a format that needs to be changed to something easier to work with, such as fixing weird spacing issues and adding punctuation, which can be achieved using AI for formatting [(00:05:50)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IKbTC7Di4tQ&t=350s). - AI can be used to clean the formatting of raw highlights from a transcript by improving punctuation and grammar while keeping the original view highlight link for each highlight [(00:06:12)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IKbTC7Di4tQ&t=372s). - The prompt for AI formatting can be adjusted according to the note-taking method, such as asking for grammar and summarization for voice-to-text notes or converting bullet points to complete sentences [(00:06:21)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IKbTC7Di4tQ&t=381s). ## Organizing your highlights [(00:06:34)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IKbTC7Di4tQ&t=394s) - After consuming content, it's time to process highlights into more permanent and conceptual notes that can be added to existing notes, with the next step being to create new notes from highlights on different ideas and concepts [(00:06:35)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IKbTC7Di4tQ&t=395s). - Processing a large number of highlights can be overwhelming, so it's helpful to start with a smaller amount and add more as needed, with summarization being a useful tool to determine where to start [(00:06:49)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IKbTC7Di4tQ&t=409s). - [[ChatGPT]] can be used to summarize key takeaways from highlights and identify general topics and themes, providing a foundation for further research [(00:07:18)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IKbTC7Di4tQ&t=438s). - To identify topics and themes, ChatGPT can be asked to list them out in bullet points and subtopics in nested bullet points, allowing for further research and organization [(00:07:30)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IKbTC7Di4tQ&t=450s). - Combining summarization and topic identification, ChatGPT can be asked to organize key takeaways under higher-order themes, creating a "super summary" [(00:07:41)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IKbTC7Di4tQ&t=461s). - To create a super summary, ChatGPT can be asked to organize key takeaways under their respective topics and themes, as identified in a previous prompt [(00:07:54)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IKbTC7Di4tQ&t=474s). - If the summary doesn't do justice to the highlights, it's possible to be more specific about the desired focus, allowing for a more accurate summary [(00:08:03)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IKbTC7Di4tQ&t=483s). ## Progressive summarization [(00:08:09)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IKbTC7Di4tQ&t=489s) - An alternative approach to summarization is to manually summarize content and then ask AI to format it, following Thiago Forte's [[Progressive Corporation | Progressive]] summarization technique, which involves re-reading highlights and condensing them to 20% of the original text [(00:08:16)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IKbTC7Di4tQ&t=496s). - This technique involves building on existing text by re-reading and condensing highlights, and then using AI to extract key information [(00:08:17)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IKbTC7Di4tQ&t=497s). - The Progressive summarization technique can be applied to various types of content, such as articles, and can help extract key terms and headers, as demonstrated in an example where AI extracted bolded headers and key terms from an article on a three-part daily routine for maximum productivity [(00:08:27)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IKbTC7Di4tQ&t=507s). - The extracted information, such as bolded headers and key terms, can be used immediately, providing a useful starting point for further learning and note-taking [(00:08:34)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IKbTC7Di4tQ&t=514s). ## Creating conceptual notes [(00:08:37)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IKbTC7Di4tQ&t=517s) - Conceptual notes are a fundamental part of the learning process, and it's essential to use ChatGPT's answers as suggestions rather than blindly following them to avoid diminishing the personality of your notes and overall critical thinking [(00:08:50)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IKbTC7Di4tQ&t=530s). - When unsure about what kind of notes to make from highlights, you can ask [[ChatGPT]] to group them based on potential note titles, ensuring they are atomic, creative, and connectable to other conceptual notes [(00:09:07)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IKbTC7Di4tQ&t=547s). - ChatGPT can help list out the title of the conceptual notes that can be made based on the highlights, along with the related highlights under each note [(00:09:11)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IKbTC7Di4tQ&t=551s). - If you have existing notes and want to connect new highlights to them, you can ask ChatGPT to interpret the instances of the concept note and creatively connect the highlights to the existing note [(00:09:58)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IKbTC7Di4tQ&t=598s). - To connect highlights to an existing note, provide ChatGPT with the contents of the note and ask it to come up with a title for the new note, copy the referenced highlight, and explain how it relates to the content inside the concept note [(00:10:12)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IKbTC7Di4tQ&t=612s). - When using ChatGPT's suggestions, it's essential to understand its thought process and see if it makes sense to you, using it as a copilot for your own decisions rather than blindly agreeing with its suggestions [(00:10:42)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IKbTC7Di4tQ&t=642s). ## Finding smart connections to existing notes [(00:10:52)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IKbTC7Di4tQ&t=652s) - To grow knowledge into a web of strongly connected ideas, it's essential to learn how to relate new notes to existing ones, which can be challenging, especially when using inconsistent terms or phrases to describe a broad concept [(00:11:07)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IKbTC7Di4tQ&t=667s). - Using AI, it's possible to find the most relevant ideas and notes, regardless of how long ago they were taken, by utilizing the smart connections plugin [(00:11:24)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IKbTC7Di4tQ&t=684s). - The smart connections plugin can be used to find connections to existing notes in a Vault, and it can be accessed by opening the smart connections files pane in the sidebar [(00:12:02)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IKbTC7Di4tQ&t=722s). - The plugin provides main suggestions based on the content of the notes, and it can also be used to find connections to a specific part of a note by copying and pasting the content into the search bar [(00:12:33)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IKbTC7Di4tQ&t=753s). - The plugin can make connections between notes based on their content, even if the notes are not directly related, as seen in the example where a note on anger is connected to a note on overcoming intense emotions [(00:13:11)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IKbTC7Di4tQ&t=791s). - The smart connections plugin can suggest notes that are not necessarily identical in concept but share similar ideas, such as a book on breaking the habit of being yourself and a note on the non-duality of the self and other [(00:12:12)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IKbTC7Di4tQ&t=732s). - The plugin can also suggest notes that offer different perspectives or practices for overcoming intense emotions, such as journaling, calming the anxious brain, and taking a broader perspective [(00:12:46)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IKbTC7Di4tQ&t=766s). ## Connecting two unrelated notes together [(00:13:15)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IKbTC7Di4tQ&t=795s) - Connections between notes are limited to what's already inside notes, but it's possible to create a bridge between two existing notes or come up with a different type of connection to make [(00:13:15)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IKbTC7Di4tQ&t=795s). - To connect two notes, such as non-dual mindfulness and meditation, additional notes can be created in between them for more seamless linking, as the connection between them may be too broad [(00:13:25)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IKbTC7Di4tQ&t=805s). - One approach is to create a hierarchical structure using headers, such as adding a "mindfulness practices" header to the meditation note and including a link under it, rather than creating a separate note [(00:13:35)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IKbTC7Di4tQ&t=815s). ## Diverse connections using the idea compass framework [(00:13:50)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IKbTC7Di4tQ&t=830s) - When creating notes, it's essential to consider the different types of links that can be made, and one framework for doing this is FEI Ling Seng's idea [[Compass]] framework [(00:13:50)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IKbTC7Di4tQ&t=830s). - The idea Compass framework consists of four directions: North links, which involve finding the source or parent of the note; West links, which involve finding similar notes for transformation and contrasting ideas; and South links, which involve exploring the consequences of the note [(00:13:57)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IKbTC7Di4tQ&t=837s). - To apply the idea Compass framework, start by brainstorming potential links alongside the note being made, using the framework to guide the process [(00:14:16)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IKbTC7Di4tQ&t=856s). - When using the idea Compass methodology, imagine linking to other similar Wikipedia-style articles that focus on one main idea, with broad and brief titles [(00:14:30)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IKbTC7Di4tQ&t=870s). - North Links can be used to explain the reasoning behind each link, and these new potential links can continue the journey of learning and note-making [(00:14:41)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IKbTC7Di4tQ&t=881s). - The idea Compass framework can be used in conjunction with prompts to inspire new ideas and connections, and can be incorporated into workflows to enhance learning and note-taking [(00:14:50)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IKbTC7Di4tQ&t=890s).