I did 98,000 Anki reviews. Anki is already dead
3 days ago
- #LLMs
- #Language Learning
- #Anki
- Anki is a spaced-repetition flashcard app that helps with memorization by reviewing content just before forgetting.
- The author used Anki extensively for learning Japanese, completing 98,005 reviews, but found limitations in its static card design.
- Key learning principles discovered: fun accelerates learning, optimal challenge (i+1 material), bottom-up learning, and real-world interactions enhance retention.
- Anki's fatal flaw: static cards lead to superficial memorization (memorizing 'rectangles') rather than deep comprehension.
- LLMs (like ChatGPT) surpass Anki by generating dynamic, contextual content, making learning more engaging and effective.
- Dynamic cards with LLMs eliminate repetition, force deep thinking, and simulate real-world usage better than static cards.
- Examples of LLM-powered tools: inContext notebook for language learning and Harvard's AI physics tutor, which doubled learning outcomes.
- LLMs still struggle with hallucinations, but domain-specific tools with good data and design mitigate this issue.
- The future of learning lies in dynamic, personalized tools powered by LLMs, making traditional flashcards like Anki obsolete.