Find Every AI Note in Obsidian Instantly | Recently Added Plugin
- 01/07/2026
Description
This video introduces and demonstrates the “Recently Added” Obsidian plugin, a custom tool developed by the creator to easily track notes automatically generated by AI workflows. It addresses the common problem of forgetting where automated insights are placed within the vault by providing an instant, filterable snapshot of newly created files, complementing existing plugins that don’t fully meet this specific need.
Best Ideas
1. Automated AI Insight Distillation: The workflow of having an AI agent distill raw conversations (clipped from tools like Gemini) into structured, reflective insights directly within Obsidian is a powerful way to process information efficiently.
2. Custom Plugin Development for Workflow Gaps: The video highlights the value of building custom solutions (like “Recently Added”) when existing community plugins don’t perfectly address specific workflow needs, demonstrating a proactive approach to tool enhancement.
3. Seamless Integration of AI and PKM: The process shows a sophisticated integration of AI (Gemini, NADM) with a Personal Knowledge Management (PKM) system (Obsidian) for an end-to-end knowledge capture and distillation pipeline.
4. Tracking Automated Content with Precision: The “Recently Added” plugin offers a critical solution for maintaining awareness of automated content, ensuring that valuable AI-generated notes are not “lost” or forgotten as soon as they are created.
5. Leveraging Webhooks for Cross-Application Automation: Using the “Post Webhook” Obsidian plugin to trigger external automation workflows (like NADM) demonstrates an effective way to connect and orchestrate different tools in a knowledge pipeline.
6. Customizable File Discovery: The plugin settings allow users to define the maximum number of files shown, their maximum age, and exclude specific paths, providing fine-grained control over what’s considered “recently added.”
7. Multi-Modal Note Retrieval Strategies: The video showcases multiple ways to find notes (Recently Added, Notebook Navigator, Backlinks, Workspace Manager), emphasizing the importance of diverse retrieval methods in a complex vault.
Tools and Resources
- Obsidian: The primary Personal Knowledge Management (PKM) software.
- Obsidian Web Clipper: A plugin used to clip raw web content (AI conversations) directly into Obsidian notes.
- Post Webhook (Obsidian Community Plugin): Used to send data from Obsidian to external automation platforms.
- NADM (Self-hosted instance): An automation workflow engine (like n8n.io) used to process raw conversations into insights via an AI agent.
- Google Gemini: The AI model used for conversations that are then processed.
- Recently Added (Obsidian Plugin): A custom-built plugin by the creator to display newly created files by creation time. (Available on GitHub, installable via Brat).
- Recent Files (Obsidian Community Plugin): Mentioned as an alternative that tracks *opened* files, not *created* ones.
- Notebook Navigator (Obsidian Community Plugin): Another plugin mentioned that can show newly created files under the vault’s top level.
- Brat (Obsidian Community Plugin): Used to install beta/unofficial Obsidian plugins directly from GitHub repositories.
- GitHub: Repository for the “Recently Added” plugin, containing installation instructions.
- Obsidian Workspace Manager: Used to save and switch between different note exploration layouts.
- Obsidian Backlinks: A core Obsidian feature for navigating between linked notes.
Key Learning Points
- Automation is key for efficient knowledge management: Integrating AI and automation can significantly reduce manual effort in capturing and distilling information, making your PKM system more powerful.
- Tool limitations can inspire innovation: If existing tools don’t fully support a desired workflow, identifying that gap can lead to developing custom solutions that better fit individual needs.
- The distinction between “opened” and “created” files: It’s important to differentiate how files are tracked; knowing when a file was *created* (especially automated ones) is different from knowing when it was last *opened*.
- Layering plugins creates advanced workflows: Combining multiple Obsidian plugins (web clipper, webhook sender, custom discovery tools) allows for highly sophisticated and tailored knowledge processing pipelines.
- Contextual discoverability enhances utility: Ensuring that automatically generated notes are immediately discoverable and linked to their origin significantly increases their value and usability.
- Effective knowledge distillation: The process emphasizes transforming raw information into concise, actionable insights, highlighting the value of processing content beyond mere storage.