Learn how to use AI to capture lectures, readings, and slides—then turn them into organized notes, study guides, and flashcards. Follow proven workflows used by thousands of students and teachers to make studying faster and more effective.
AI note taking uses artificial intelligence to organize information from lectures, readings, and videos. It transcribes and summarizes content, highlights key terms, and structures notes into study-ready outlines.
With PolarNotes, you can record live lectures, upload PDFs, or paste links to videos and slides. The AI creates organized notes, outlines, and quizzes—all while keeping you focused on understanding, not typing.
Each workflow helps you capture and study faster. Choose where you want to begin.
Most schools allow AI note taking tools for study support when used responsibly. Always check your syllabus and cite your sources. AI should assist your learning, not replace your own work.
Record class audio or upload a lecture file. The AI transcribes, highlights, and summarizes key points.
Result: Structured notes with sections, key terms, and summary paragraphs.
Highlight the most important sections from your notes. The AI turns them into a printable one-pager with a 3-question self-check.
Result: An instant study sheet ready before exams.
Upload a reading or article. The AI extracts definitions, concepts, and topic headers for easy scanning.
Result: Cleanly formatted notes for quick review.
Upload slide decks or paste a YouTube link. The AI identifies topics, timestamps, and major takeaways.
Result: Outlines for review or makeup study.
Select notes or summaries to turn into quiz questions or flashcards. Export to CSV (Anki, Quizlet).
Result: Automated active recall with spaced practice.
See a real student example: lecture audio transformed into a one-page study guide with headings, key terms, and quiz questions.
Use your phone close to the lecturer or speaker. Shorter clips process faster and keep notes clear.
Include key terms, formulas, and topic-specific terms to improve AI accuracy.
Add context to your request: “Focus on definitions and pathways,” or “Include dates and examples.”
Always review AI-generated notes. Correct numbers, check formulas, and cite any quotes or sources.
Previews aren’t saved. Export only what you choose to keep. Use local or school drives for secure storage.
When you generate AI notes, ask the tool to flag key takeaways. Then, when you use a study-guide generator or flashcard tool, select only those flagged parts. The AI has already surfaced what matters most, so your exam prep stays focused.
Download Cornell notes templates for lectures, readings, and videos. Download printable and digital formats (PDF, Google Docs, and more)
Browse ready-to-use AI prompts for note-taking, study guides, flashcards, and writing support. Designed for students and teachers using tools like ChatGPT, Gemini, and NotebookLM in school.
Learn when AI note-taking is allowed, how to protect student data, and how to cite AI-generated notes in APA and MLA. A practical guide to AI privacy, academic integrity, and responsible use.
AI note-taking tools don’t just store text. They transcribe lectures, pull text from PDFs and slides, then turn that content into structured notes with headings, key terms, summaries, and practice questions. You still control what goes in and how you study; the AI only speeds up capture and organization.
Get started with our free online AI note taker today.
You can use an AI note-taking app with lecture audio, Zoom recordings, textbook PDFs, articles, slide decks, and even YouTube lectures or screen recordings. The best results come from clear audio and readable files. For specific workflows, see the sections on Lectures → Notes, PDFs → Notes, and Slides & YouTube → Notes on this page.
Treat AI notes as a first draft. Skim once for major errors, then compare key points against your textbook, slides, or instructor handouts. Add missing examples, formulas, or diagrams, and highlight anything your instructor flagged as “on the exam.” The more you edit and annotate, the more useful the notes become.
First, use AI to combine your lecture, reading, and slide notes into one organized document. Then send those notes to a study guide generator for learning objectives, key terms, and practice questions. Finally, convert the most important points into flashcards or quizzes for daily review (link to your flashcard tool page).
Start with clean, edited notes. Select the sections you want to study and feed them into your AI flashcard or quiz generator. Ask for term–definition cards, concept checks, and multiple-choice questions. Review the output, fix any errors, and then use spaced repetition to practice.
Yes. You can ask AI to format your notes into a Cornell layout with cue column, main notes, and summary. Many students export AI notes into Cornell templates to help with review and self-testing. For ready-made printable and digital layouts, see your Cornell Notes Templates.
Turn your lectures, PDFs, and slides into clear notes, study guides, and flashcards in minutes. Use this guide with our AI note taker to build a repeatable system for every course and stay organized all semester.
