The Friday Brain Upgrade

How to eliminate mental fatigue, amplify cognitive performance, and become an unstoppable learner

The AI wake-up call that changed how I learn forever

Today, let’s dive into how we can leverage AI for learning and knowledge management.

TL;DR
• Discover how AI transforms learning and knowledge management
• Learn to use AI for efficient content capture and summarization with tools like Matter
• See how AI enhances the Second Brain approach to knowledge management
• Understand AI’s role in the 4-MAT learning cycle
• Get recommendations for integrating AI into your learning journey, including when (and when not) to use AI

My wake-up call came from Mo Gawdat’s powerful insight that AI is worse than climate change . From that moment, I recognized the urgent need to understand AI and adapt to this new reality.

When I attended the 3-Day Mindvalley AI Summit in 2023 , I was hooked by the possibilities. That was 1.5 years ago. Looking at the incredible speed of change and new AI capabilities being added, it’s astonishing to see many people still lacking even a basic understanding of this world-changing technology.

On my journey to better learning and helping others learn how to learn, I’ve discovered numerous ways AI can support smarter, more efficient, and impactful learning. Let me share some approaches that enhance my daily learning routine.

I use AI Support During Information Capture

When investigating a topic, the capture phase involves processing vast amounts of information.
The challenge: How can we efficiently scan multiple sources and identify what’s relevant to our goals?

AI excels at this stage through its powerful summarization and transformation capabilities. Here’s a practical example:

My concrete implementation uses Matter as my Read Later app, which offers convenient YouTube video transcription.

Take the 2-hour podcast mentioned above - that’s a significant time investment when I had to watch that. With Matter, I can get a transcript in just 5 minutes, then either create my own highlights or request an AI summary.

This integration of AI transcription and summarization provides quick access in my preferred format, delivering key insights in minutes and helping me decide whether to dive deeper or move on.

The Wake-up-call video podcast with Mo Gawdat as guest

Left: Transcription with Highlights, Right: Instant Summary

I use AI Support for Knowledge Management

As you may recall from Newsletter Edition 002, I use the Second Brain approach for personal knowledge management.

This involves externalizing insights into notes, enriching them with personal thoughts, and creating connections between them to form a knowledge web.

The challenge: As your note collection grows, traditional organization methods like folders and basic search become limiting. Here’s where AI steps in. I use Smart Connect for Obsidian, which can read all my notes and transform them into a format accessible by ChatGPT.

Let’s look at one example I use for writing this Newsletter. With this version I want to provide you with a list to all my LinkedIn Posts that connect to this Newsletters main topic.

Without AI:

→ I would search for the keyword AI in all my posts.
→ Then check content and manually copy/paste the links.
→ Then write a brief summary.

Boilerplate work. I want to provide you with follow ups, easy and lightweight.

With Smart Connect that has access to all my LinkedIn posts, I ask:

Find all posts that connect to working with artificial intelligence

1 minute, with the list of posts created that you can find below in this Newsletter.

I integrate AI with the 4-MAT Learning Cycle

The 4-MAT system covers a holistic learning cycle through 8 stages, helping you grasp meaning, understand concepts, acquire skills, and adapt learnings. (I’ll cover 4-MAT in detail in future newsletters.)

AI currently enhances the Image, Inform, Practice, Extend and Perform phases.

In the inform stage, I use Perplexity.ai for fact checks and connecting to further sources. I use Perplexity.ai already more often than Google.

I use ChatGPT for explaining me a topic in different words or for providing examples.

In the practice stage, AI assists with exercises and implementation

In the extend and perform phase I leverage AI to apply my learnings. For example to create presentations, to write my articles, to design courses.

From soon 2 years of working with AI here are:

My three recommendations for learning with AI

1) Adopt an AI first mindset. Always invite AI to the table. Start by asking yourself: “How can AI support me with that topic.”

2) Assume this is the WORST AI you’ll ever use

I work with curiosity and anticipate ongoing changes in AI tools and capabilities. I regularly test AI boundaries as capabilities evolve weekly

3) Remain the human in the loop It is important to understand AI’s limitations

In 15 times to use AI and 5 not to Ethan Mollick povides a great orientation.

I just asked my notes via ChatGPT: Summarize my notes from 15 Times to use AI, and 5 Not to

15 Times to Use AI

1. Quantity-Based Work: Tasks requiring many ideas or variations.
2. Expert Supervision: Where expertise ensures quick validation of AI outputs.
3. Information Summarization: Simplifying large data with low-risk errors.
4. Translation of Complexity: Adapting content complexity for diverse audiences.
5. Overcoming Blocks: Small pushes to progress stalled tasks.
6. Contextual Assistance: AI complements understanding in unfamiliar areas.
7. Varied Outputs: Providing options for editing or curating.
8. Coding Support: Especially for research-backed tasks like programming.
9. First-Pass Analysis: Simulating reactions from different perspectives.
10. Multidisciplinary Stretch: Acting as a partner for diverse knowledge areas.
11. Mentorship-Like Role: Aiding document creation and ideation.
12. Simulated Perspectives: Testing scenarios through fictional personas.
13. Ritual Tasks: Completing redundant work, like unread standardized reports.
14. Second Opinions: Verifying ideas or decisions.
15. Learning Assistance: Synthesizing new information quickly.

5 Times Not to Use AI
1. High Accuracy: When error-free results are critical.
2. Critical Fact-Checking: Risks from plausible but false AI outputs.
3. Effort-Driven Work: Areas where personal struggle fosters insight.
4. Uncritical Dependence: Guard against sycophantic or persuasive AI behavior.
5. Deep Learning: Complex topics requiring self-driven exploration and effort.

How do you use AI for learning? I’m curious to learn about your approaches too.

Learn Smart, Basti

My LinkedIn posts for further exploration

Co-Intelligence: Living and working with AI You present five roles for AI:

Persona: How AI adopts a personality or role to interact effectively.
Creative: AI as a tool for brainstorming and generating ideas.
Coworker: A partner that complements human decision-making.
Tutor: A guide for skill enhancement and knowledge acquisition.
Coach: Offering reflective insights to optimize personal and professional growth.

Four principles for mastering AI collaboration Shares four principles for mastering AI collaboration, such as inviting AI to the table, treating AI like a person, and leveraging AI responsibly.
Smart Connect - my first impressions Explores how Smart Connections in Obsidian enhance knowledge management and uncover new insights.
How AI became my Daily Superpower - 12 use cases Describes 12 use cases of AI enhancing daily workflows, including translations, summarizing content, enhancing LinkedIn posts, and data analysis.
7 AI tools that I leverage daily Highlights AI tools like Langdock, ChatGPT, Midjourney, and more, showcasing how they enhance workflows and creativity.
Five important knowledge management skills to master Discusses five roles for AI: Persona, Creative, Coworker, Tutor, and Coach. Explores AI’s integration into various work and learning scenarios.
3 Reasons why Langdock stands out for me Details why Langdock is a preferred AI tool, integrating multiple LLMs and knowledge sources.

Three Inspiring people to follow

Elena Jaeger - with great application of GPTs and here awesome starter course
Felix Schlenther - pioneer with AI First and strong with AI strategy
Rachel Woods- with her awesome AI playbook