How to Take Notes from YouTube Videos with AI (2026 Guide)

The fastest way to take notes from YouTube videos with AI is using NoteLM.ai's video summarizer, which extracts key points with timestamps automatically. For integrated note-taking, combine NoteLM.ai transcripts with Notion AI or Obsidian to create organized, searchable notes. This guide covers 5 proven methods that save hours of manual note-taking.

Why Use AI for YouTube Video Notes?

Traditional note-taking from videos is time-consuming:

Research shows viewers retain 95% of information from video content compared to 10% from text alone. AI notes combine the best of both: video comprehension with searchable text references.

5 Methods to Take AI Notes from YouTube Videos

*With ChatGPT account

Method 1: NoteLM.ai — Fastest Structured Notes

NoteLM.ai provides instant AI-generated notes with key points, timestamps, and summaries.

Step-by-Step Process

1. 1.Copy YouTube video URL
2. 2.Paste into NoteLM.ai's YouTube Summarizer
3. 3.Click "Summarize"
4. 4.Wait 5-10 seconds

NoteLM.ai automatically provides:

• Main topic summary (1-2 paragraphs)
• Key points with timestamps
• Important quotes/statistics
• Actionable takeaways

• Copy to clipboard for pasting anywhere
• Download as TXT file
• Save timestamps for video navigation

Example Output Format

📺 VIDEO: [Title]
⏱️ Duration: [Length]

## Summary
[2-3 sentence overview]

## Key Points

### 1. [First Key Point] (timestamp: 2:34)
[Brief explanation]

### 2. [Second Key Point] (timestamp: 8:15)
[Brief explanation]

### 3. [Third Key Point] (timestamp: 15:42)
[Brief explanation]

## Actionable Takeaways
- [Takeaway 1]
- [Takeaway 2]
- [Takeaway 3]

## Notable Quotes
- "[Quote 1]" - (timestamp: 5:20)
- "[Quote 2]" - (timestamp: 12:45)

When to Use NoteLM.ai

✅ Need quick notes in under 2 minutes

✅ Want timestamp references for review

✅ Processing multiple videos

✅ Don't need integration with note apps

Method 2: Notion AI — Best for Knowledge Management

Notion AI lets you create organized, linked notes that grow into a searchable knowledge base.

Setup Process

1. 1.Use NoteLM.ai to get the full transcript
2. 2.Copy the timestamped text

1. 1.Open Notion
2. 2.Create new page titled with video name
3. 3.Add properties: Source URL, Date, Topic

Paste transcript, then select text and use Notion AI:

/ai summarize

Or for more structured notes:

/ai "Create study notes with main concepts, examples, and questions"

Advanced Notion Workflow

Database Setup:

Create a "Video Notes" database with properties:

• Title (text)
• Source URL (URL)
• Topic Tags (multi-select)
• Date Watched (date)
• Status (select: To Process, Noted, Reviewed)
• Key Takeaways (text)
• Related Notes (relation)

AI Prompts for Notion:

For educational videos:

Create study notes including:
- Core concepts with definitions
- Step-by-step processes
- Examples mentioned
- Questions for self-testing

For tutorials:

Create actionable notes including:
- Prerequisites needed
- Step-by-step instructions
- Common mistakes to avoid
- Next steps and resources

Notion AI Pros and Cons

Pros:

• ✅ Integrated with existing Notion workspace
• ✅ Create linked knowledge graph
• ✅ Search across all notes
• ✅ Collaborative features

Cons:

• ❌ Requires Notion AI add-on ($10/mo)
• ❌ Manual copy-paste workflow
• ❌ Not YouTube-specific

Method 3: Obsidian + AI — Best for Local Notes

Obsidian with AI plugins provides privacy-focused, local note-taking with powerful linking.

Setup Process

1. 1.Download Obsidian (free)
2. 2.Install plugins:

- Text Generator (for AI)

- YouTube Transcript plugin (optional)

1. 1.Configure API key (OpenAI or local AI)

1. 1.Create new note: YYYY-MM-DD - [Video Title]
2. 2.Get transcript from NoteLM.ai
3. 3.Paste transcript

Select transcript and use Text Generator:

Create detailed notes from this video transcript:
- Extract main arguments
- List key facts and statistics
- Identify actionable items
- Create questions for review

Obsidian Note Template

---
source: [YouTube URL]
date: {{date}}
tags: #video-notes #[topic]
status: raw
---

# [[Video Title]]

## Metadata
- **Channel:** [Channel Name]
- **Duration:** [Length]
- **Watched:** {{date}}

## Summary
[AI-generated summary]

## Key Concepts
- [[Concept 1]]: Definition/explanation
- [[Concept 2]]: Definition/explanation

## Detailed Notes
[AI-generated detailed notes with timestamps]

## Questions
- [ ] Question 1?
- [ ] Question 2?

## Connections
- Related to: [[Other Note]]
- Contrasts with: [[Another Note]]

## Action Items
- [ ] Action 1
- [ ] Action 2

Obsidian Pros and Cons

Pros:

• ✅ Data stored locally (privacy)
• ✅ Powerful backlinks and graph view
• ✅ Free core software
• ✅ Works offline

Cons:

• ❌ Steeper learning curve
• ❌ Requires plugin setup
• ❌ AI features need API keys

Method 4: YouTube Transcript + ChatGPT

The manual approach using YouTube's built-in transcript with ChatGPT gives full control over output.

Step-by-Step Process

1. 1.Open YouTube video
2. 2.Click three-dot menu → "Show transcript"
3. 3.Click transcript panel
4. 4.Ctrl+A to select all, Ctrl+C to copy

I'm going to share a YouTube video transcript. Please create comprehensive study notes including:

1. **Executive Summary** (2-3 sentences)
2. **Main Topics** (with timestamps if available)
3. **Key Concepts** (bullet points with brief explanations)
4. **Important Facts/Statistics** (with context)
5. **Actionable Insights** (what I can do with this information)
6. **Questions for Review** (to test understanding)

Format the notes in markdown with clear headings.

Here's the transcript:
[PASTE TRANSCRIPT]

Follow up with:

• "Expand on section 3"
• "Create flashcards from the key concepts"
• "What questions would test deep understanding?"
• "Summarize this for someone with no background"

ChatGPT Prompt Templates

For Lectures:

Create lecture notes suitable for exam preparation:
- Key definitions
- Important formulas/frameworks
- Examples given
- Potential exam questions

For Tutorials:

Create a step-by-step guide I can follow later:
- Prerequisites
- Numbered steps with details
- Tips for each step
- Troubleshooting common issues

For Interviews/Podcasts:

Extract insights from this conversation:
- Speaker backgrounds
- Key arguments each speaker made
- Points of agreement and disagreement
- Most quotable moments
- Resources mentioned

Method 5: Dedicated Video Note Apps

Several apps specialize in video note-taking with AI features.

Top Apps Compared

NoteGPT Workflow

1. 1.Install browser extension
2. 2.Navigate to YouTube video
3. 3.Click "Generate Notes"
4. 4.View AI summary + mind map
5. 5.Edit and organize in app
6. 6.Sync to Notion (optional)

When to Use Dedicated Apps

✅ You take video notes daily

✅ You want visual organization (mind maps)

✅ You need spaced repetition review

✅ You prefer integrated solutions

Best Practices for AI Video Notes

1. Review and Edit AI Output

AI notes are 90-95% accurate but should be reviewed:

• Verify technical terms and names
• Add personal insights and connections
• Remove irrelevant sections
• Highlight most important points

2. Add Your Own Context

Enhance AI notes with:

• Why you watched this video
• How it connects to other knowledge
• Questions that remain unanswered
• Action items specific to your goals

3. Organize for Retrieval

Structure notes so you can find them later:

• Consistent naming convention
• Clear topic tags
• Link to related notes
• Regular review schedule

4. Use Timestamps Strategically

Don't timestamp everything. Focus on:

• Key concept introductions
• Important examples or demonstrations
• Controversial or surprising claims
• Actionable advice sections

5. Batch Process Videos

For efficiency:

1. 1.Collect videos to watch during the week
2. 2.Process all transcripts in one session
3. 3.Review all AI notes together
4. 4.Identify connections between videos

Common Mistakes to Avoid

❌ Trusting AI Notes Blindly

AI can miss nuance, misunderstand context, or hallucinate. Always verify important information.

❌ Over-Processing

Not every video needs detailed notes. Triage:

• Quick summary: Entertainment, news
• Detailed notes: Courses, tutorials
• Skip notes: Already-known content

❌ No Review System

Notes you never revisit are wasted effort. Implement:

• Weekly review of recent notes
• Spaced repetition for key concepts
• Active recall testing

❌ Ignoring Video Timestamps

Timestamps are your link back to the source. Include them for:

• Complex explanations
• Demonstrations
• Quotes and statistics

1. 1.Fastest route: Use NoteLM.ai for instant structured notes
2. 2.Best organization: Combine NoteLM.ai transcripts with Notion AI or Obsidian
3. 3.Most control: Manual transcript + ChatGPT prompts
4. 4.Integrated solution: Dedicated apps like NoteGPT

Start with NoteLM.ai's free summarizer for your next video. Once you have the AI notes, spend your time on what matters: understanding, connecting, and applying the knowledge.

Try NoteLM.ai's YouTube Video Summarizer →

Related Resources:

• Best AI YouTube Video Summarizers (2026)
• How to Summarize YouTube Videos with ChatGPT
• YouTube Transcript Generator: Complete Guide