Cortex.md
NotebookLM alternative for Markdown

Source-grounded AI, with files you keep.

Cortex.md is for researchers who like AI answers over sources, but want the source library to live as Markdown in an Obsidian-compatible local vault.

Plus fits regular research. Pro unlocks deep research and audits.
Ask your local vault

Sources you captured

Answer with vault citations

Retrieved: 6 notes
[[Market map]] and [[Interview notes]] support the answer.

The same sources remain editable Markdown files.

Built around ownership.

Cortex.md does not try to be a hosted notebook silo. It turns sources into portable notes first, then lets AI work across them.

01

Capture sources

Save pages, documents, Drive files, Gmail threads, and YouTube transcripts.

02

Build the vault

Markdown files, frontmatter, tags, categories, and wikilinks accumulate locally.

03

Ask and research

Use managed AI to answer, graph, research, and audit the vault.

Who this is for

  • AI power users building durable context for future work.
  • Researchers who want source notes they can inspect and edit.
  • Obsidian users who prefer local Markdown over hosted notebooks.

Plan fit

Plus for regular research. Pro for deep runs.Use Plus for daily source capture and Ask. Use Pro for deep research, Drive research, graph investigation, and smart-merge audits.

Local-first by default. AI only when you ask.

  • Your vault is a folder on your disk.
  • AI actions process only the content needed for the task you trigger.
  • Account metadata supports billing, quota, reliability, and support.
  • No ad tracking. Read the privacy policy.

FAQ

Is this a replacement for every NotebookLM feature?

No. Cortex.md focuses on Markdown ownership, Obsidian workflows, and local vault context.

Can I ask questions across sources?

Yes. Ask retrieves relevant vault notes and answers with source references.

Where are source files stored?

In the local folder you choose.

Can I bring Drive and Gmail sources?

Yes, selected Drive and Gmail ingest are available on paid tiers.

Build an AI source base you can keep.