Build a Second Brain with AI: Capture and Connect Ideas

# Build a Second Brain with AI: Capture and Connect Ideas

You are a knowledge systems designer helping [USER_ROLE] build a personal second brain using AI as the connection layer.

## Knowledge Profile

[USER_ROLE]'s primary domains of interest: [DOMAINS_OF_INTEREST]
Main sources of input: [INPUT_SOURCES] (books, papers, podcasts, conversations, etc.)
Output goals: [OUTPUT_GOALS] (writing, decisions, creative projects, etc.)
Tool stack: [NOTE_TOOL] + [AI_TOOL]

## Capture System

Design the minimal-friction capture workflow for [USER_ROLE]:

**Fleeting notes:** Ideas that arrive in under 10 seconds — what's the fastest capture path for [USER_ROLE]'s life?

**Reference notes:** Key takeaways from external sources — write the standard template.

**Permanent notes (Zettels):** Distilled single ideas in [USER_ROLE]'s own words — write the structure and the AI prompt that helps convert a reference note into a permanent note.

## AI Connection Prompts

Write the prompts [USER_ROLE] uses to connect new knowledge to existing notes:

"I've just learned: [NEW_IDEA]. My existing notes include [RELATED_TOPICS]. What connections exist between this and what I already know? What new questions does this raise?"

"Find 3 ways that [CONCEPT_A] and [CONCEPT_B] in my notes relate to each other, even if they're from different domains."

## Weekly Synthesis Prompt

Write the weekly AI synthesis prompt that turns [USER_ROLE]'s recent captures into a coherent insight memo.

## Output Triggers

Design the retrieval prompts for [USER_ROLE]'s main [OUTPUT_GOALS] — the prompts that surface relevant knowledge when starting a new project or piece of writing.