Let’s be honest, most of us don’t really “learn”, we just consume.
We scroll through videos, read articles, and bookmark threads hoping something will stick. But when it’s time to actually use what we’ve read, it fades away.
That’s because learning today is broken.
We’re surrounded by more information than ever (thanks to the internet and AI), but we don’t have a process to retain it, connect it, or apply it.
I felt that pain deeply, and it’s a problem we all experience.
Let me give you my example.
As a programmer and content creator, I constantly study complex ideas and topics from AI models to product design to storytelling frameworks.
But reading or watching videos alone wasn’t helping, and it took too much time. Sure, I’d understand something in the moment, then forget half of it a day later.
So I stopped trying to “learn faster” and started focusing on remembering better and finding a better way to learn. AI completely changed the game for me.
Over time, I built a couple of repeatable workflows that help me do three things extremely well.
And this post breaks down those AI workflows using tools like Perplexity, NotebookLM, and Gemini so you can learn faster and actually retain what you learn, step by step.
Note: If you found this post valuable or learned something new, consider becoming a free subscriber to my newsletter on Substack. It’s the best way to read more of my work, support me, and keep this kind of content coming.
With that said, let’s get started.
1. This AI workflow helps me learn 10x faster
You know, as a content writer, I spend hours going through articles, videos, and research papers just to understand one topic properly.
But here’s the shortcut: I use Perplexity and NotebookLM to upload knowledge into my brain faster.
Here’s how I do it:
First, I open Perplexity and search for the best resources such as blogs, YouTube videos, research papers, or even books on whatever I’m learning (for example, “how to learn AI fast”).
Then, instead of reading each source manually, I take all the URLs that Perplexity gives me and paste them into NotebookLM by creating a new notebook.
You may know, NotebookLM lets me upload multiple types of sources such as PDFs, website links, transcripts, text files, and more, all in one place. I usually go with the website link option and add everything there.
If you want to master NotebookLM and learn how to use it in your daily work, you can read this helpful post.
Now comes the magic part:
I ask NotebookLM specific questions like “Explain reinforcement learning like I’m 5” or “Summarize the key principles of deep learning from all these sources”.
And it doesn’t stop there. I can instantly generate audio summaries, video overviews, mind maps, reports, and even quizzes from the same data.
The best part is that I can customize all of them. For example, I can ask it to create a short two-minute audio version, a YouTube-style explainer, or a quiz that tests my understanding.
To be honest, this single AI workflow saves me hours and maximizes my productivity to an insane level.
2. Visualize your research and remember 3x more
When I’m deep into research, plain text usually isn’t enough, and it makes concepts hard to understand.
I often need something visual that helps me see the data and connect the dots faster.
But the problem is that most of us don’t know how to build reports or dashboards from scratch. That’s where AI makes things simple.
You can now research, analyze, and even build full visual dashboards without writing a single line of code.
Here’s how I do it: Let’s say I want to research a U.S. stock before investing, for example, NVIDIA Corp.
That’s where, I start with Perplexity and write a detailed prompt like this:
I want to research a US stock before investing a big amount. The stock is NVIDIA Corp.
Give me a clear, simple, and data-backed analysis covering:
a) What the company does and how it makes money.
b) Financial health – revenue, profit trend, debt, and cash flow.
c) Valuation – is it cheap or expensive vs competitors.
d) Growth drivers – what could make it grow in the next 3–5 years.
e) Risks – main reasons the stock could fall.
f) Recent news & earnings – anything important to know.
g) Final summary – would you consider this a Buy, Hold, or Avoid (based on data, not hype)?Keep it short, structured, and beginner-friendly — no generic answers please.
Within seconds, Perplexity gives me a complete, structured analysis backed by real data and sources.
Next, I copy that output and open Gemini, and use their Canvas feature.
In short, Canvas is a creative workspace inside Gemini where you can generate documents, visuals, and even simple web apps using prompts and direct edits.
Then I paste everything from Perplexity into Canvas and choose what I want to create, such as an infographic, a web page, or a dashboard.
And so, Gemini instantly turns that data into clean visuals.
For example, I asked it to make an infographic based on NVIDIA’s analysis, and it created one showing key financials, growth drivers, and risks in a simple, easy-to-digest layout.
Looks informative and easy, right?
You see, we’re not just reading information, we’re interacting with it, seeing it clearly, and remembering it faster.
And the best part? You can use the same approach to study AI trends, startup case studies, or even personal finance.
3. Learn anything deeply with Gemini’s “Guided Learning”
We often ask LLMs to “explain like I’m 5” when something feels too complex to understand.
And while that works for quick explanations, real learning happens when you engage, go deeper, and actually do something with the concept.
That’s where Gemini’s new feature “Guided Learning” changes everything.
It works like a personal learning coach (or a personal tutor) that doesn’t just give direct answers but helps you truly understand a topic step by step.
More clearly, according to Google, Guided Learning provide you a step-by-step guide to help you build a deep understanding instead of just getting quick answers.
Let’s take an example.
Suppose I’m a student who wants to deeply understand a Physics topic like “Reflection and Refraction”.
That’s where, I simply go to Gemini, choose the Guided Learning feature, and write a prompt such as:
In seconds, Gemini starts explaining the topic like a personal tutor with clear diagrams, real-life examples, and interactive steps that build one after another.
As you can see, it can also include images, short videos, and quizzes to help you test what you’ve learned along the way.
And the best part? Once you finish a topic, it even asks follow-up questions and suggests related concepts to explore next.
You see, you’re not just reading or learning faster.
You’re learning interactively, like having a smart AI tutor guiding you step by step.
So whether you’re trying to master Physics, understand AI, or pick up a new skill, Gemini’s Guided Learning helps you truly remember what you learn instead of reading it and forgetting it later.
Let’s wrap up
So far, you learned these three practical moves in this post:
Use Perplexity and NotebookLM to collect, simplify, and save the best information so you don’t get lost in too many articles. Add your sources to a notebook, ask clear questions, and create short summaries, quizzes, or audio notes that are easy to learn what you need or review later.
Turn text into visuals with tools like Gemini Canvas so concepts become memorable. Visuals make connections obvious and stick in your head far longer than complicated texts.
Learn interactively with guided flows. Instead of one-off explanations, use the guided learning features that build concepts step by step and test you along the way.
And here are a couple of extra things worth knowing:
If you want a single place that exposes many of Google’s AI capabilities, try Google’s AI Studio. It bundles a lot of Google AI features and can be a useful complement to the workflow above. Think of it as another powerful tool in your toolkit.
Don’t try to use every tool. Use one workflow for a week, get comfortable, then add another tool only if it solves a real pain point.
The fastest way to remember stuff is simple: organize the right inputs, force retrieval (quizzes, flash audio), and turn facts into something you can explain or show. AI just makes those steps much faster.
I hope you like it.
That’s it, thanks.
Lastly, if you found this post valuable or learned something new, consider becoming a free subscriber to my newsletter on Substack. It’s the best way to read more of my work, support me, and keep this kind of content coming.
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