Ultralearning + AI: an idea Scott Young gave me

Reading Ultra Learning

Hey everyone, this is Allan. This morning I read parts of Ultralearning after Scott sent an email to his newsletter subscribers. He talked about how AI can change the way we learn, and that got me back to the book. I had read it a few years ago, but I stopped halfway. Today I picked it up again and started with the chapter on repetition.

AI and Flashcards

The email highlighted how easy it is now to have AI generate flashcards for spaced‑repetition systems. That idea stuck with me all afternoon. Using AI to create questions and flashcards could make the repetition process much smoother.

Idea for Recurring Revenue

After the reading, I went to the supermarket for a snack. While I was there, I thought about building a source of recurring revenue from multiple streams. I want the money to fund a lifestyle that lets me travel, study what I love, and avoid being stuck in an office or my hometown.

Info Product + App

One way to make money is to combine an information product, selling knowledge about a topic, with an app that offers a monthly subscription. Pairing the same content across both creates a strong offer. Sharing my knowledge feels necessary to me; I enjoy teaching what I learn because it might help others. As a developer, I know how to build apps, even though I haven’t had much success launching my own products yet. I build products for other people, so I understand the process.

I study a lot of things, AI, language learning, spirituality, and more. That breadth gives me material for both an info product and an app. My first concrete idea is an info product about learning with AI, essentially “Ultralearning with AI.” My friends know me for picking up new skills quickly, so I could package that expertise. The companion app would use AI to manage spaced‑repetition, reminding users to review material at the right intervals. The product would teach, the app would help apply, and a monthly subscription would sustain the model.

Note‑Taking Habit

I wrote down this idea as soon as I got home, even though I didn’t have my phone or paper at the supermarket. A habit I’ve started recently is to capture every idea and thought that sticks in my mind. If you, like me, study many topics, you’ll generate a lot of ideas, some good, some not. A simple step you can take today is to start noting down ideas that arise while you’re learning. You never know which one might become your next project.