The Explosion of 2nd Brain Apps: Things I Don't Know About AI

The Explosion of 2nd Brain Apps: Things I Don't Know About AI

In today's fast-paced and information-driven world, it's no surprise that the use of productivity apps has skyrocketed. From note-taking apps to task managers, these tools aim to help individuals streamline their workflow and organize their thoughts. One emerging trend in this space is the rise of "2nd brain" apps – platforms designed to serve as a digital extension of our minds. These apps promise to help us collect, process, and make sense of the vast amount of information we encounter daily.

One such app that has caught my attention is Matter. With Matter, users can collect various types of content, such as articles, web pages, and even snippets of text, and process them using its powerful features. It offers a seamless experience, allowing users to integrate their collected knowledge into their workflow effortlessly. But Matter is just one piece of the puzzle.

Another tool that has intrigued me is Glasp. Unlike Matter, Glasp is not an app but a browser extension. It allows users to highlight and annotate web content, providing a simple yet effective way to extract key insights. One interesting feature of Glasp is the ability to use different highlight colors for different purposes. For example, yellow can be used for standard highlights and insights, blue for facts or terminology, red for statements we disagree with, and green for the main takeaway points. This color-coding system can be immensely helpful in organizing and reviewing information.

But how do these 2nd brain apps tie into the world of artificial intelligence (AI)? Well, the connection might not be immediately apparent, but it's worth exploring. Azure, Microsoft's cloud computing platform, generates a staggering $25 billion in revenue every quarter. What's even more interesting is the impact that AI has had on Azure's revenue in recent times. In the second quarter of 2024, Azure experienced a growth of 6 percentage points, thanks to AI. This translates to an annualized increase of $5-6 billion, which is roughly 50% of Microsoft's investment in OpenAI.

This raises a few thought-provoking questions. Are cloud providers, like Microsoft, shaping the AI landscape by funding large-scale models? Are they creating an oligopoly market by leveraging their immense compute power and capital? Additionally, does the open-source software (OSS) model disrupt the traditional economics of AI, shifting the focus from foundation models to cloud-based solutions? Moreover, does Meta, the parent company of Facebook, continue to fund open-source models like Llama-N and push the boundaries of AI research?

Digging deeper into the licensing terms of Llama2, there's an intriguing clause that allows open commercial use of the license if the user base is fewer than 700 million. This provision not only prevents large competitors from freely using Llama's models but also creates a revenue stream for Meta. Cloud providers, like Microsoft, would need to pay a licensing fee to Meta for using Llama, despite it being an open-source model. This highlights Meta's long-term strategy to control and monetize Llama, showcasing the complexities of the AI market.