AI Assistant" and "Local Files
A New Future Envisioned by Obsidian-style Workflows that Transcend the Cloud-Centric Norm
Introduction: The Age of AI Supporting Intellectual Work
We need "intellectual production" in all aspects of our lives, whether it is learning, work, or creativity. In our daily lives, AI assistants are emerging as new partners.
AI that assists with activities such as document creation, information organization, task management, and idea generation is no longer a novelty.
Notion, in particular, has enhanced its AI assistant capabilities by fully leveraging its "cloud-based ecosystem" to create an environment where advanced support is available quickly, anytime and anywhere. Obsidian, on the other hand, is exploring a unique AI usage model that does not rely on the cloud, based on a design that emphasizes "local files."
In this article, we'll explore how Notion and Obsidian are each embracing "AI assistance" and opening up new possibilities, despite their contrasting approaches.
Notion: Responsive AI assistance enabled by a cloud-based infrastructure
The convenience of a cloud-based system and global resources
Notion is able to leverage massive computing resources in the cloud to provide high-quality, real-time suggestions, summaries, and auto-generated tables through its AI assistant feature.
Users can harness the power of AI in their own notebooks and databases to make text organization and project planning easier.
For example, you can quickly summarize long sentences, instantly translate between multiple languages, or even have a database designed for you. By taking full advantage of the cloud, Notion has created an environment where "the best assistant is always on standby, wherever you are, as long as you are connected to the Internet".
Stability and scalability of always-online
AI that runs in the cloud is easy to maintain in terms of speed and quality, even when accessed by many users simultaneously, and it is also easy to upgrade and add new features. New models and enhancements are made available all the time, and Notion users automatically benefit from them.
This is something that many companies and teams are looking for. Being able to use the same AI capabilities in a shared workspace is a key factor in increasing the productivity of the entire team.
Obsidian: Local Files Enable "Cloud-Independent" Intellectual Evolution
"Anti-Cloud Philosophy and Local AI
In contrast, Obsidian's fundamental concept is to manage files locally. The approach of assembling Markdown files on one's own computer or smartphone to build a network of knowledge in a free form has attracted users who value privacy and independence.
From the Obsidian community came the idea of "Can we harness the power of AI without the cloud? In fact, plug-ins and lightweight models that run AI in a local environment are beginning to emerge, and attempts are being made to realize an "intellectual workspace" supported by AI at hand, regardless of whether there is an Internet connection or not.
Privacy and Offline Support
What Obsidian users want is privacy and complete control over their data.
For those who are uncomfortable leaving their confidential information and ideas in the cloud, local AI can be an ideal solution.
In addition, when the AI is running locally, even in places with unstable Internet connections, there is no need to stop generating ideas, formatting text, or searching for notes. The appeal of Obsidian is the peace of mind that comes from knowing that your intellectual assistant is always there for you.
Compare Notion and Obsidian: Cloud vs. Local AI Perspective
Notion with Cloud: Scalability and Responsiveness
Benefits: Always be able to use the latest AI models. Large-scale computing resources allow you to use advanced features immediately. All team members can have a consistent AI experience.
Disadvantages: Internet connection required. Sending data to external servers raises privacy and service dependency concerns.
Obsidian, which focuses on local: independence and privacy
Advantages: Offline use without Internet access, privacy guaranteed by keeping data on hand, less dependent on cloud outages or price changes.
Disadvantages: AI models that can be run locally are still mainly lightweight versions, and it can be difficult to process as powerfully as in the cloud. Users must take the initiative to update and switch models.
A new balance brought about by the development of lightweight AI models
The age of smartphone-based AI
Thanks to technological advances, lightweight AI models that run on smartphones and tablets are now appearing.
Microsoft's Phi-3 Mini and Google's lightweight models are making the use of AI on mobile devices a reality. As this progresses, even local-focused tools like Obsidian will be able to take their advanced AI capabilities to the cloud.
As a result, there may be a wide range of intermediate points between cloud-based tools like Notion and locally focused tools like Obsidian, and there is also the possibility that a "hybrid strategy that combines cloud and local" will proliferate.
Hybrid operations: the best of both worlds
In fact, we may soon reach a point where users choose to use local AI or cloud AI, depending on their needs.
This hybrid approach, where you use Obsidian for day-to-day, privacy-focused intellectual production, but rely on Notion's cloud AI when you need advanced processing or team collaboration, could become a flexible option for overcoming the conflicting axes of individual and organization, online and offline, privacy and sharing.
Breaking the "AI assistant = cloud" mentality
New values: AI is a "touch point in the knowledge space"
In the past, when "AI assistant = cloud" was the norm, we took it for granted that we would always be connected to the Internet. However, with the development of Obsidian and lightweight AI models, a new set of values has emerged: "AI is something that can be integrated directly into your knowledge space" and "it can become your own intellectual partner without relying on external resources".
This view makes the strengths of tools like Notion and Obsidian clearer and gives users a variety of options.
The future: A world where individuals and organizations are free to choose
In the future, it will be common for companies and research institutions to use local AI in accordance with their privacy requirements, and for individual users to optimize their intellectual work by using both "cloud" and "local".
Notion will satisfy its user base by leveraging the scalability and sharing of the cloud, while Obsidian will satisfy its user base by leveraging the privacy and independence of the local. As a result, users will be able to choose the AI experience that best suits their needs.
Summary: Cloud, local, or both?
As Notion develops its AI assistant on a cloud-based platform and Obsidian explores an "anti-cloud", local-focused AI deployment, we are beginning to move away from the conventional wisdom that "AI assistant = cloud-based".
While these two tools are in different positions, they both show new possibilities for users to improve the quality of information management and intellectual work.
The options are expanding: to enjoy the power and network effects of the cloud, to protect local privacy and independence, or to use both wisely.
The management of notes and the organization of information in the age of AI will continue to search for a new balance point, including the "middle ground" created by the two extremes of Notion and Obsidian. In the process, we are entering an era in which we can enjoy the freedom and variety of information use to the fullest.
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