A True Second Brain

How many people spend more time organizing their “second brains”, instead of leveraging the information within them? 

With consumer AI now capable of processing simple language prompts and interfacing with unstructured data, is the landscape of information management on the brink of a transformative evolution?

Founders of Mem, Kevin Moody and Dennis Xu, plus writer Nat Eliason, explore what’s gotten in the way of a true second brain, and how AI may finally unlock what “knowledge management” tools have promised for so long. 

 

Topics Covered:

00:00 - A true second brain

02:45 -  Knowledge management

06:01 - Thiago Forte's ‘Building a Second Brain’

10:24 - Digital hoarding

12:53 - The fun of organizing 

14:16 - Levels of utility

19:09 - Can the unstructured nature of AI help?

21:46 - What does a second brain unlock? 

25:23 - Time spent  searching for information

31:07: LLMs and technology unlocks

34:22 - Personalization 

36:24 - Is the second brain a new PA and EA?

38:57 - Challenges

44:32 - Moats and differentiators 

 

Resources:

• Link to Mem’s website: https://mem.ai
• Find Kevin on Twitter: https://twitter.com/kevinfmoody
• Find Dennis on Twitter: https://twitter.com/DennisHXu
• FInd Nat on Twitter: https://twitter.com/nateliason
• Nat’s course on Effortless Output in Roam: https://www.effortlessoutput.com/

 

Stay Updated: 

Find a16z on Twitter: https://twitter.com/a16z

Find a16z on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/a16z

Subscribe on your favorite podcast app: https://a16z.simplecast.com/

Follow our host: https://twitter.com/stephsmithio

Please note that the content here is for informational purposes only; should NOT be taken as legal, business, tax, or investment advice or be used to evaluate any investment or security; and is not directed at any investors or potential investors in any a16z fund. a16z and its affiliates may maintain investments in the companies discussed. For more details please see a16z.com/disclosures.