Why AI Assistants Change the PKM Equation
Hook
The biggest problem in Personal Knowledge Management isn’t capture—it’s processing. We all collect notes, but who actually reviews them?
Thesis
AI assistants like Claude Code solve the “processing problem” that habits alone cannot fix.
Section 1: The Processing Problem
Traditional PKM workflow:
Capture → Manual Review → Extract to Permanent Notes
↑
(This rarely happens)
The dirty secret: most people capture but never process. Notes accumulate. Fleeting notes stay fleeting forever.
Section 2: How AI Changes the Equation
With an AI assistant:
Capture → AI Processes → Routes Automatically
| Traditional PKM | AI-Augmented PKM |
|---|---|
| Capture → manual review → extract | Capture → AI processes → routes |
| Daily note = inbox needing triage | /capture = immediate routing |
| Weekly review = you do the work | /reflect = AI does heavy lifting |
The human bottleneck is removed.
Section 3: Capture Surfaces Reimagined
Multiple entry points, unified processing:
[Stickies] ──→ /collect-stickies ──→ routes to destinations
[/capture] ──→ immediate routing
[Daily Note] ──→ /reflect ──→ extracts cards/todos
[Voice memo] ──→ transcribe → /capture
All roads lead to the same organized system.
Section 4: When to Still Use Daily Notes
Decision framework:
| Use Daily Notes If… | Skip If… |
|---|---|
| Want unstructured thinking space | AI handles processing |
| Daily journaling ritual | Multiple entry points exist |
| Need calendar navigation | Occasional dumping only |
Section 5: The New Best Practice
- Capture without friction — use whatever surface is convenient
- Let AI process — route to destinations (todos, events, cards)
- Review outputs, not inputs — check organized cards, not raw notes
The insight: good habits are hard. Good systems with AI are easy.
Key Visuals
- Before/After flowchart — manual processing vs AI routing
- Comparison table — Traditional vs AI-augmented
- Capture surfaces diagram — multiple inputs, unified output
Target Audience
- Obsidian/PKM enthusiasts frustrated with note accumulation
- People curious about AI-augmented workflows
- Claude Code users looking for workflow ideas
Related Cards
Status
- Idea captured
- Outline reviewed
- First draft
- Edited
- Published