ADR-0001: AI-first interface with hard guardrails
Status: Accepted Date: 2026-05-19
Context
The vault could be operated two ways: (A) user writes notes by hand in Obsidian, AI helps occasionally; or (B) user converses with AI and AI maintains the vault. The user’s stated goal is to “focus on developing ideas and conversationally expand,” with AI managing “connections, headers, and small details.”
Decision
AI-first (B). User talks to AI about readings and ideas; AI extracts atomics, builds threads, manages backlinks, surfaces counter-arguments. Vault is the byproduct. All AI work flows through a review gate — nothing commits unreviewed (see ADR-0009).
Alternatives considered
- A — Vault-first (Obsidian only): rejected — keeps the user filing instead of thinking, which is the exact tax that kills most Zettelkasten attempts.
- Hybrid with no review gate: rejected — invites silent drift, which is the user’s top stated fear.
Consequences
- (+) User cognitive load is on wrestling with belief, not filing
- (+) AI can enforce hygiene rules at scale
- (−) Requires trust in AI’s atomization choices, mitigated by per-batch review (ADR-0009)
- (−) Token cost is real, mitigated by hybrid chat→script pipeline (ADR-0011)