Building KOTA: A Practical Approach to Distributed Cognition

This talk dives into the journey of building KOTA (Knowledge-Oriented Thinking Assistant), a personal cognitive partner developed iteratively using simple, accessible tools: markdown files, Python scripts, and the Aider command-line AI coding tool. We’ll explore how KOTA evolved from a basic knowledge base into a practical implementation of distributed cognition, where the system gains agency to manage its own structure and even initiate tasks (like sending Telegram notifications or running overnight builds). Discover the techniques used to integrate personal data securely (prioritizing local LLMs), the surprising effectiveness of this minimalist approach, and its real-world impact on productivity – enabling rapid development cycles like building multiple micro-SaaS products in weeks (“Project Mosaic”). Learn the core principles and get a practical starting guide to building your own personalized cognitive extension, fostering AI partnership beyond reliance on closed, corporate systems.