My 6-Step Method to Build a Second Brain with ChatGPT

Author

Technology Insights Daily
July 07, 2025

In partnership with

Stay up-to-date with AI

The Rundown is the most trusted AI newsletter in the world, with 1,000,000+ readers and exclusive interviews with AI leaders like Mark Zuckerberg, Demis Hassibis, Mustafa Suleyman, and more.

Their expert research team spends all day learning what’s new in AI and talking with industry experts, then distills the most important developments into one free email every morning.

Plus, complete the quiz after signing up and they’ll recommend the best AI tools, guides, and courses – tailored to your needs.

Blink, and you’ve already missed the next big thing. AI, automation, quantum computing—while you’re scrolling past headlines, others are leveraging new tech to get ahead. Instead of scrambling to catch up, why not have the latest breakthroughs delivered straight to you? These handpicked tech newsletters keep you ahead of the curve, so you never miss an innovation that could change everything. Stop playing catch-up—start leading the trend. Get Daily Tech Updates – Join Free 🚀

Most people use ChatGPT for quick Q&A tasks. While helpful, this often leads to scattered information and shallow problem-solving. Esor argues that ChatGPT has the potential to become a powerful AI productivity system—a digital second brain that assists in managing projects, organizing knowledge, and generating results.

Instead of treating ChatGPT as a passive assistant, Esor proposes a 6-step system to turn it into a workflow-integrated AI operating system. Think of it like an AI-enhanced version of Notion or Trello—but within ChatGPT itself.

1. Automate Task Input Using ChatGPT Tasks + AI Search

  • Instead of manually browsing the web or managing RSS feeds, Esor sets up automated tasks inside ChatGPT to pull new information daily.

  • For example, one thread is set to run daily with the prompt:
    “Search for the latest AI tools and applications articles and compile a report.”

  • This daily update feeds inspiration for teaching, writing, and idea generation.

  • The benefits include:

    • Saves time on manual research.

    • Filters information based on specific criteria (topic, source).

    • Provides summarized insights with proper citations.

🔁 Examples of auto-input threads:

2. Organize and Analyze Using Cross-Thread Memory

  • ChatGPT now has memory across different threads (available in free, Plus, and Pro plans with varying limits).

  • This allows users to treat ChatGPT like a personal knowledge database.

  • Esor leverages this to:

    • Combine scattered ideas and research from multiple threads.

    • Reorganize data into new structured formats (e.g. project outlines, writing plans).

    • Maintain tone and logic using saved memory (e.g., “no emojis”, or specific project logic).

💡 Outcome:
ChatGPT becomes a reliable research assistant that understands past context and builds new knowledge from old inputs.

3. Kickstart Projects with Deep Research

  • Esor uses ChatGPT’s Deep Research to gather external and internal knowledge:

    • External: Searches and summarizes articles from dozens of sources.

    • Internal: Reviews files from Google Drive (docs, slides, etc.) for project insights.

  • Project launch workflow:

    1. Review past discussions for relevant problems and questions.

    2. Use Deep Research to find new cross-domain information.

    3. Analyze internal documents (e.g. in Drive) for past reports or data.

📊 Use cases:

4. One Thread per Project + Use ChatGPT “Projects” Feature

  • For clarity and performance, Esor creates one dedicated chat thread per project.

  • Within each thread, ChatGPT:

    • Learns the project’s tone, needs, and goals.

    • Builds content (e.g. outlines, slides, assessments) using past discussion as memory.

  • Uses the new “Projects” feature:

    • Group related threads.

    • Upload shared reference files.

    • Create reusable commands (e.g. define team roles, file names, voice/tone).

🧩 Example:
In a course planning thread, Esor asked ChatGPT to create quiz questions based on previously discussed content without uploading files again. ChatGPT found and reused relevant materials from the thread.

📁 Other “Projects” include:

  • Personal life (fitness, finance, home)

  • Blog/article planning

  • Course design

  • Travel or event coordination

5. Select the Right GPT Model for the Task

Esor matches GPT versions with specific use cases:

Model

Use Case

GPT-4o

General tasks, daily chats, outlines, drafts

GPT-3.5 (o3)

Research-heavy tasks needing logic and structure

GPT-4.1

Summarizing long conversations, recalling extended context

GPT-4.5

Precision editing, grammar, and flow fixes in writing

GPT-4-mini-high

Visual analysis, layout planning, image interpretation

🛠️ Tip:
Tasks like “Vibe Coding” or multi-week discussions benefit from GPT-4.1 due to its long-term memory and better context tracking.

6. Expand Output Beyond Text: Images, Code, and Voice

ChatGPT is more than text:

  • Image generation (via GPT-4o): Tailored visuals for presentations or teaching.

  • Codex: AI coding assistant for GitHub projects, software tasks.

  • Voice mode: Real-time brainstorming with natural conversation, even in languages like Taiwanese.

  • Voice recording/transcription: Speak thoughts, get structured transcripts.

🎤 Example:
When stuck on writing, Esor speaks ideas aloud. ChatGPT turns them into structured notes or article drafts.

📊 Example:
Upload charts or infographics, and ChatGPT helps interpret or redesign the layout for clarity.

Don’t just scroll past breakthroughs in AI, automation, and quantum computing — get the most important updates delivered directly to you.

With our handpicked tech insights, you’ll spot new opportunities before others even notice them, helping you lead trends instead of chasing them.

That’s a wrap for today! Stay informed and ahead—catch us tomorrow for more insights. Forward 🔗 www.technologyinsightsdaily.com to a colleague who loves emerging tech.