This Mindfulness Journaling App Puts Reflection Above Productivity Quick LinksNote and Document Summarization Idea Brainstorming Generating Study Guides Draft Meeting Agendas
These days, it feels like every app is throwing in AI just because they can. But in some cases, it's actually useful -- especially when it comes to note-taking.
1 Note and Document Summarization
Summarizing documents and notes is hands down the best use of AI I've found in note-taking apps. Most of the time, you can feed the app a note you've taken externally and ask it to extract information; this is precisely how I use NotebookLM. Your app can show you the most essential notes to consider, and can also ask for the key points.
Some apps, like Notion AI, can also summarize what's already stored in your workspace. This, for example, is one way that I use Notion AI -- and it's also the very basis of how NotebookLM operates. Accuracy can vary depending on your choice, so it's worth trying multiple options to see which works best for you. You can even use ChatGPT to take notes like a pro if none fit your needs.
2 Idea Brainstorming
One of the coolest things about AI is its ability to generate fresh ideas when you're feeling stuck. Most of the time, I've also noticed that it's significantly easier to think of extra new ideas after I've had some put in front of me. I often use ChatGPT and Claude for idea generation, but sometimes, I'll ask a note-taking app for help.
To be honest, the differences between a note-taking app and ChatGPT often aren't very big -- especially if your note-taking app is powered by OpenAI. This is the case with Notion AI, which I used for the example above. However, one key difference is that a note-taking AI can brainstorm ideas based on the context of your existing notes, something ChatGPT can't do. Nonetheless, I still think it's worth using to get some extra ideas; sometimes, what you see will differ from what ChatGPT feeds you.
While I've asked Notion AI for something related to Pinterest, you can also use AI in your note-taking app to come up with a thesis idea or get ideas on where to move your studies next. If you do want to use ChatGPT, consider checking out these tips on how to brainstorm ideas with a mindmap and ChatGPT.
3 Generating Study Guides
I've been out of the education system for a long time, but I pride myself on being a lifelong student. Personally, I find it easier when I have a structured program to follow -- and one thing I really like about AI is that I can create these with less effort on my part. Sometimes, I'll use note-taking apps to generate these frameworks; that way, I can edit everything in one place.
When creating study guides in note-taking apps, I've noticed that you have to be very specific with your information. Otherwise, you'll get a generic answer that ultimately means very little. Give as much context as possible, such as how long you have to study, whether it's formal education or not, and what your weaknesses are.
If you already have notes related to what you're studying, these should hopefully help the AI gather more context.
4 Draft Meeting Agendas
I'm not a fan of endless meetings -- who is? -- but when they're necessary, I like to go in prepared. AI in note-taking apps helps me draft clear, concise agendas, pulling from previous meeting notes or related pages within my workspace. This way, I'm not starting from scratch every time.
While you can use ChatGPT and similar tools, I like using note-taking apps because you can show the app any previous meeting notes that relate to your upcoming meeting. Notion AI also extracts information from the other pages within your workspace to make your results more accurate.
If you've been skeptical about AI in note-taking apps, I get it. It can seem gimmicky at first glance. But once you dive in and explore the features, you'll see how it can improve your workflow.
