💻Interactive Online Course
InstructorLearn with Vertech Academy

Obsidian +
AI Basics

A guide to running AI locally in Obsidian. Keep your data private while chatting with your notes.

2 hours
A simple, straightforward guide to get you started.
4.9
From reviews of users of this program.
Beginner
A smartphone, tablet, or computer with stable internet access.
Flexible schedule
Can be completed quickly
Learn at your own pace

Free Starter Course — Obsidian + AI Basics

Obsidian is popular because it respects your privacy: your notes are just local Markdown files on your hard drive. But introducing AI usually means sacrificing that privacy by uploading your data to OpenAI or Google.

This course is built for people who want the power of AI without handing over their personal data. We cover how to connect open-source, locally run models (using tools like LM Studio or Ollama) directly to your Obsidian vault.

You'll learn how to set up chat interfaces that can 'read' your entire vault to find connections across your notes, generate tags automatically, and query your research—all while completely disconnected from the internet.

Why Obsidian + Local AI?

Total control. You aren't paying a monthly subscription, your notes aren't being used to train corporate models, and you have a system that will outlive any tech company's pricing changes.

Because setting up local models requires a bit more technical legwork, this course walks you through the exact installation steps, the best community plugins to use (like Text Generator or Smart Connections), and what hardware limitations to expect. It's a completely transparent guide to building a private, AI-augmented vault.

Skills you'll build:

PKM
Local Vaults
AI Chat with Notes

Requirements:

A desktop, laptop, or tablet (mobile works for video playback, but a desktop is recommended because the interactive modules work better on a larger screen).
A stable internet connection.
A free account with Obsidian (no paid plan required, we'll show you how to set it up).
Can be completed quickly
Hands-on practical skills you can use immediately
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What is Vertech Academy?

It's an educational platform that offers both free and paid content. We teach you how to use AI properly, ranging from open-access starter guides to a full premium professional certification.

We will be adding new features, tools, and materials in the coming weeks.

What's in it for me?

You don't have to sacrifice your privacy to use AI. I'll show you how to connect open-source models to your local vault so you can chat with your notes securely.

🧠

Sharpen your thinking

Ask your AI questions and have it find connections across years of your own writing.

📚

Manage your homework

Keep all your assignments organized in one place and let AI help you break them down.

🔄

Sync your notes

Learn how to access your private vault across all your devices so you can study anywhere.

📤

Share your documents

Turn your private markdown notes into clean documents that you can easily share with others.

🔍

Track your research

Use community plugins to automatically categorize and link related ideas that you might have missed.

Skills you'll gain

Tools you'll learn

Details to know

Taught in EnglishAvailable worldwide
100% onlineStart any time, learn at your own pace
60-day guaranteeFull refund, no questions asked

Course outline

Here's exactly what we'll cover in this program. 4 modules. 2 hours. Go at your own pace — there's no deadline.

10 min

1. Why Obsidian + AI?

Understand the privacy and ownership advantages of building a local AI-powered second brain.

25 min

2. Chatting with Your Notes

Install the Copilot plugin to build a secure, private chatbot that reads your specific vault.

20 min

3. Finding Hidden Connections

Use the Smart Connections plugin to automatically find related concepts you've forgotten about.

15 min

4. What next?

Choose your path forward: stick with simple cloud APIs or go 100% offline with local models.

Frequently asked questions

Yes, Obsidian is 100% free for personal use.

Enroll TodayStart today. Self-paced. Cancel anytime.