I have 4,723 notes in Obsidian. Without AI, that’s a graveyard of forgotten ideas. With AI, it’s a thinking partner that surfaces connections across years of accumulated knowledge.
Here’s how to set up Obsidian as an AI-powered second brain that doesn’t just store information — it thinks with you.
Why Obsidian + AI (Not Notion or Others)
Obsidian has unique advantages for AI integration:
- Local files — your notes are markdown files on your computer, not locked in a cloud database
- Plugin ecosystem — 1,500+ plugins, including powerful AI integrations
- Graph view — visual representation of knowledge connections
- No vendor lock-in — switch tools anytime, your files are still yours
- Privacy — AI can run locally without sending data to cloud services
The Essential AI Plugins
1. Smart Connections (Free)
This is the most transformative plugin. Smart Connections creates vector embeddings of all your notes and shows related notes in a sidebar — like RAG for your personal knowledge base.
How it works:
- Embeds every note using OpenAI or local models
- When you open a note, shows the most semantically similar notes
- You can chat with your entire vault — ask questions and get answers sourced from your own notes
// Example: Open a note about "product-market fit"
// Smart Connections shows related notes:
// - "Jobs to be done framework" (87% similarity)
// - "User interview insights March" (82% similarity)
// - "Competitor analysis Q1" (79% similarity)
// Connections you wouldn't find with manual linking
2. Copilot for Obsidian
Brings ChatGPT/Claude directly into Obsidian with:
- Chat panel that has context of your current note
- Ability to reference other notes in conversations
- Generate content based on your existing notes
- Summarize long notes or meeting transcripts
3. Text Generator
AI text generation directly in your notes:
- Auto-complete paragraphs
- Generate outlines from titles
- Expand bullet points into full paragraphs
- Translate text inline
4. Local GPT
For privacy-conscious users: runs AI entirely on your machine using Ollama. No data leaves your computer. Performance is good with modern Apple Silicon or NVIDIA GPUs.
The Second Brain Architecture
Folder Structure
vault/
├── 00-Inbox/ # Quick capture, process daily
├── 10-Projects/ # Active projects with deadlines
├── 20-Areas/ # Ongoing responsibilities
├── 30-Resources/ # Reference material and learning
├── 40-Archive/ # Completed projects
├── 50-Templates/ # Note templates
└── 60-Daily/ # Daily notes and journals
The PARA + Zettelkasten Hybrid
Combine PARA (Projects, Areas, Resources, Archive) for organization with Zettelkasten linking for knowledge connection:
- Fleeting notes — quick captures in the Inbox, processed within 24 hours
- Literature notes — summaries of things you read/watch/learn
- Permanent notes — your own ideas, written in your own words
- Project notes — specific to active projects
AI enhances this by automatically suggesting links between notes you’d never connect manually.
AI-Powered Workflows
Workflow 1: Daily Note Processing
- Capture everything into the Inbox throughout the day
- Each evening, open each inbox note
- Ask AI: “What existing notes in my vault relate to this?”
- Add bidirectional links to related notes
- Move to appropriate folder
Workflow 2: Research Synthesis
- Take literature notes on multiple sources
- Ask AI: “Based on these 5 notes, what are the key themes and contradictions?”
- AI generates a synthesis note with citations to your original notes
- Review and refine the synthesis with your own thinking
Workflow 3: Idea Development
- Write a rough idea as a fleeting note
- Ask AI: “What concepts in my vault could strengthen or challenge this idea?”
- Review the suggested connections
- Develop the idea into a permanent note with supporting links
Workflow 4: Weekly Knowledge Review
Every Sunday, ask AI to analyze your week:
“Based on all notes I created or modified this week, what are the main themes I’m thinking about? What connections should I explore further? What questions am I not asking that I should be?”
Advanced Techniques
Technique 1: Semantic Tagging
Instead of manually tagging notes, let AI suggest tags based on content. Smart Connections can identify clusters of related notes that should share tags.
Technique 2: Question-Based Retrieval
When working on a problem, don’t search for keywords. Ask questions:
- “What do I know about customer retention strategies?”
- “What have I learned about React performance optimization?”
- “What patterns do I see in my failed projects?”
AI searches semantically, not just by keyword. It will find relevant notes even if they don’t contain the exact words you used.
Technique 3: Automated Meeting Notes
Record meetings (with consent), transcribe with Whisper or a transcription service, and use AI to:
- Extract key decisions and action items
- Link mentioned topics to existing notes
- Create follow-up task notes automatically
People Also Ask
Is Obsidian free?
Yes for personal use. Obsidian Sync ($4/mo) and Publish ($8/mo) are paid, but you can use free alternatives (Syncthing, Git) for syncing.
How much does the AI integration cost?
The plugins are free. API costs for OpenAI embeddings are minimal — embedding a 5,000-note vault costs about $2. Ongoing query costs are pennies per day. For zero cost, use Local GPT with Ollama.
Can I use Obsidian on mobile?
Yes — iOS and Android apps are available. AI plugins work on mobile but may be slower. The mobile app is best for quick capture; do heavy AI work on desktop.
Getting Started Today
- Install Obsidian and create a vault
- Install Smart Connections — the single most valuable AI plugin
- Import existing notes from whatever tool you’re using
- Start with daily notes — capture everything for two weeks
- Add AI-powered search — start asking your vault questions
The power of a second brain isn’t in the storage — it’s in the retrieval and connection. AI turns Obsidian from a filing cabinet into a thinking partner.
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