AI and PKM: The Foundation of Modern Knowledge Work

Before we explore further, let’s lay a foundation. This article aims to define Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Personal Knowledge Management (PKM). We’ll explore how they are coming together to reshape the way we interact with knowledge. No matter your comfort and experience level with these topics, this article serves as a primer to bring everyone onto the same page.

Defining Artificial Intelligence (AI)

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is a branch of computer science focused on creating systems that can perform tasks typically requiring human intelligence - things like learning, reasoning, problem-solving, and understanding language. In the context of Personal Knowledge Management (PKM), we’ll focus on two key types of AI: large language models (LLMs) and embedding models.

• Large Language Models (LLMs) are designed to understand and generate human-like text. They can handle tasks like summarizing information, generating ideas, or even drafting content, making them invaluable in note-taking tools or writing assistants. These models help users process and interact with large amounts of information quickly, so you can focus on deeper, more creative work. One popular example is ChatGPT. Check out this video to learn more about LLMs.

• Embedding Models go a step further by finding relationships between different pieces of information. They help identify patterns and connections you might not notice, making it easier to organize and retrieve knowledge. Embedding models are especially useful for intelligent search systems, which intuitively know what you’re looking for, even when you’re not sure how to phrase it yourself. Check out this video to learn more about how embeddings work!

Both of these AI tools are transforming how we interact with information, enabling more intelligent and personalized knowledge management systems.

Defining Personal Knowledge Management (PKM)

To give us a better understanding of what PKM is, we should break it down into its core components - Personal, Knowledge, and Management. By defining these terms individually, we can get a clearer picture of how they come together.

Personal:

In the context of PKM, "personal" is fairly self-explanatory. It's all about you. Unlike team-based knowledge management systems, PKM is about managing knowledge for your own growth, understanding, and productivity. It’s highly individual, designed to fit how you work, what you’re trying to achieve, and what tools resonate with you.

Knowledge:

Knowledge here refers to all the information we gather, whether from articles, books, meetings, journals, YouTube videos, voice memos, podcasts, or even our daily experiences. Knowledge comes in many forms, from notes and highlights to quotes and ideas that help you understand the world and apply those insights to your life.

Management:

Management means organizing your knowledge so it’s useful, like tagging or categorizing it in a way that helps you find what you need easily. Whether you prefer digital apps like Evernote, ClickUp or Notion or traditional paper notebooks, the goal is to create a system that works for you.

Bringing It Together