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Next-Gen AI Note-Taking Tools

Jun 20, 2025

Overview

This video reviews five next-generation AI-powered note-taking tools, analyzing their unique features and the potential impact for writers, creators, and entrepreneurs.

Voice Notes: AI-First Voice Transcription

  • Focuses on capturing spoken ideas quickly and accurately, ideal for moments when typing isn't convenient.
  • After transcription, AI extracts action items and can generate content like emails directly from voice notes.
  • The "Ask AI" feature allows users to query past ideas and instantly retrieve relevant information.
  • Noted that speaking results in capturing more ideas than traditional typing.

Ser: Designed for ADHD Focus

  • Offers a simple, clean, distraction-free interface, focusing on minimalism compared to feature-dense apps like Notion or Obsidian.
  • Features an AI (Sky) that suggests better organization through titles, folders, and tags for new notes.
  • Sky can synthesize and connect ideas across notes and supports multiple premium AI models.
  • Allows chatting with the entire notes library to facilitate deeper connections.

Recall: Content Summarization and Knowledge Graph

  • Tailored for heavy content consumers, enabling active knowledge building and summarization.
  • Summarizes, categorizes, and links notes automatically, building a personal knowledge graph.
  • Browser extension enables instant summarization and linking of web content.
  • New "augmented browsing" resurfaces relevant saved content in real time while browsing.

Tana: Advanced Node-Based Note System

  • Utilizes a node-based system where every line of text is its own document, enabling flexible organization.
  • Supports "super tags" with customizable properties, allowing multi-faceted tagging (e.g., task + idea).
  • Integrates AI for chat, summary generation, voice transcription, and auto-population of note properties.
  • Has a mobile app emphasizing quick voice capture; steep learning curve but usable as a basic outliner.

Cortex: AI-Synthesized Writing Workspace

  • Built from the ground up as an AI-native tool, emphasizing synthesis of notes and highlights for publishing.
  • Features an intuitive interface inspired by Obsidian and Notion, with core AI assistant (Kai) that integrates deeply with user notes.
  • Capture system allows immediate connection of ideas to ongoing projects; library section keeps references separate from personal writing.
  • Integrates with Readwise for automatic highlight import; writing system connects all elements for seamless creation.
  • Includes advanced AI prompting and reference tools for inspiration and productivity.

Final Thoughts and Community Engagement

  • Encourages feedback and tool recommendations from viewers.
  • Invites the audience to join a Substack newsletter focused on leveraging AI for productivity.