08 Mar 2025 5 min read Knowledge Management

Kortex Just Leveled Up: Global Shortcuts & AI That Actually Understands Creators

Image Courtesy: Kortex

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For writers, creators, and productivity nerds like us, the quest for the perfect "second brain" is never-ending. We're constantly searching for tools that not only organize our thoughts but also enhance our creative flow. That's why I'm so excited about the latest updates to Kortex, the note-taking app that's quickly becoming my go-to writing space.

Kortex already stood out with its focus on seamlessly capturing, organizing, and creating content. But with the addition of global shortcuts and kAI V1, it's now a serious contender for anyone looking to supercharge their productivity.

Global Shortcuts: Capture Ideas Before They Vanish

Raise your hand if you've ever had a brilliant idea, only to have it slip away because you were too busy app-switching. And believe me, I had tried to capture those fleeting ideas in an exclusive voice note, a to-do app, and via a widget, finally, Kortex gets it. That's why they've introduced global shortcuts that let you capture ideas in a flash, no matter what you're working on.

Here's the magic:

Alt + C (Windows): Instantly summon the Kortex capture window and start chatting with kAI, without leaving your current application.
Alt + D: Jump directly to your current document.
Alt + K: Open the Kortex app with a single keystroke.

These shortcuts are more than just convenient; they're a lifeline for preserving those fleeting thoughts that can make all the difference.

kAI V1: Your AI-Powered Creative Sparring Partner

Kortex isn't just about capturing ideas; it's about developing them. That's where kAI V1 comes in, an AI assistant designed to be your creative sparring partner. Integrated directly into the chat functionality, kAI can:

Summarize Anything: Instantly distill key insights from documents, YouTube videos (just paste the link!), PDFs, and Readwise highlights.
Answer Questions in Context: Instead of endless Google searches, ask kAI directly. It understands the context of your workspace and provides relevant answers, saving you precious time.
Brainstorm and Ideate: Need a spark of inspiration? kAI can generate post ideas, newsletter topics, outlines, and even help you identify pain points in your niche.

According to Kortex, kAI takes the entire chat into context to give you accurate answers. You can also ask questions to documents or sources in your workspace by typing @ or +.

Here's a quick 4 minute video by Dan Koe:

Kortex vs. the Competition: Finding Your Perfect Fit

While Kortex is my latest and most loved space for 'Writing' but it was not the case earlier. Before completely moving to Kortex. I was using Craft (and Mem before that). Craft has the most beautiful and native app experience, ease of styling and the development pace is also amazing. I found Kortex to be more focused on 'Writing' than Craft. While, I am completely out of Craft. I am still curious about Mem 2.0 and also using it in Beta. The simplicity, user experience and completely offline mode with iOS app and ai integration, is what keeping me hooked in Mem still today.

Final Thoughts: Is Kortex Your Next Second Brain?

With global shortcuts and kAI V1, Kortex is quickly becoming a must-have tool for creators who value focus, efficiency, and AI-powered inspiration. And with the base features are free for cortex, it's free for personal use when you sign up! So, if you are looking for the next best "second brain," definitely check Kortex out.