Take note of Sam Altman's notetaking

If you think Sam Altman is only about groundbreaking tech, think again. AI's Dronacharya finds some old hacks useful and convenient-it turns out Samthe Man is a note-taking aficionado, having spent years perfecting his craft. Forget about digital gadgets, he swears by the classic combo of P&P-pen and paper. Altman says his favourite is a spiral notebook that fits in the back pocket and two specific pen brands. And throwing crumpled paper on the floor-rather than hitting the delete or backspace button-is a big part of his 'process'.

Now, like Altman, we of non-artificial, but perhaps average, intelligence mortals may have also jotted down brilliant ideas in a fit of inspiration, only to revisit them later and wonder if we were channelling a secret alien language. The spark of creativity hits us like a bolt of lightning, and we scribble down our thoughts, convinced we're on the brink of the next great breakthrough. But then, days later, we crack open our notebooks, only to be greeted by a jumble of letters and doodles that resemble a mix between a cryptic crossword and a toddler's art project.

Yet, sometimes, we find genuinely new ideas in this 'gibberish'. And that's part of the fun. Physically writing things down gives what you're taking note of, the hint of permanence that takes on a new sheen each time you go back to it.