AI Mind Maps

A mind map turns a topic into a one-page picture of how its ideas fit together — a central idea in the middle, main branches radiating out, and sub-points hanging off each branch. Instead of a flat wall of text, you see the structure: what the big concepts are, how they group, and which ideas connect to which.

Scholarly builds these for you automatically. Point it at your material — a PDF, a file from your library, a Google Drive document, a pasted link, or just a typed prompt — and it produces a clean, downloadable mind map of the key concepts and relationships.

When a Mind Map Helps

Mind maps are about understanding, not memorizing. They shine when:

• A topic has lots of moving parts and you can't see how they relate (a biology pathway, a history era, a framework with many components).
• You're reviewing a dense chapter and want the shape of it before you dive into details.
• You're connecting ideas across several readings and want them on one page.
• You're planning an essay or project and need to lay out the structure first.

Because a map forces every idea into a place — a branch, a parent, a connection — building one is itself an act of organizing. That's where the learning happens: you end up seeing the bigger picture instead of holding a pile of isolated facts. If pure recall is your goal instead, pair the map with Flashcards, Quizzes, and Exams on the same source.

Creating a Mind Map

Open the mind map creator from the Mind Map tile on your home page. The create window is titled Create Mind Map / Concept Map, and it turns your material into a one-page map of the key ideas and relationships.

Pick your source

You don't need a file to start — any one of these works:

• Upload files — drag in a PDF, Word document, or PowerPoint from your computer.
• Library — pick a source you've already added to Scholarly.
• Google Drive — connect Drive and choose the exact files you want, with no downloading and re-uploading. See Connected Apps.
• Paste a link — drop in a PDF or website URL and Scholarly pulls in the content.
• Prompt — skip sources entirely and just describe the topic, like "Concept map of the Krebs cycle with key steps, inputs, outputs, and relationships."

You can combine a few sources in a single map — for example, two PDFs plus a short prompt telling the AI what to emphasize.

Customize before you generate

On the next step you can shape the map:

• Style — choose the visual structure:
  • Radial Map — a central idea with balanced branches and sub-branches. The classic mind map.
  • Concept Map — connected concepts with labeled relationships on the links between them.
  • Sketchnote — hand-drawn branches, arrows, and study-note cues.
  • Minimal — a clean node-link map with thin lines and lots of breathing room.
• Language — generate the map in the language you study in.
• AI model — on paid plans you can pick which model generates the map. Locked models show a lock badge on the free plan. See Choosing an AI Model.
• Custom instructions — a free-text box to steer the map, e.g. "Emphasize cause-and-effect links, keep labels short, include key formulas."

When you're ready, click Generate Mind Map.

It runs in the background

Generating usually takes under a minute, and you don't have to wait on the screen. Close the window and keep working — Scholarly builds the map in the background and notifies you the moment it's ready. You can track progress from the notification bell and the background tasks strip on your home page. See Background Tasks and Notifications.

What You Get

Your finished mind map is a downloadable PDF — a single, shareable page laid out in the style you chose.

• It lives in your library. The map is saved as its own item (an AI Mind Map) alongside your other content, so you can reopen it any time.
• Download it. Save the PDF to your device to print it, drop it into your notes, or review it offline.
• Share it. Send a link so a classmate or study group can view the same map. See Sharing.

Mind Map vs. Study Guide

Both are generated from the same kinds of sources and both produce a downloadable PDF — they just answer different questions:

A common workflow is to generate both from the same source: the Study Guide to read through, and the mind map to keep the structure in view while you do. If you'd rather present the material, AI Slides turns the same source into a deck.

Tips

• Start from a prompt to scope it. If a chapter is huge, a prompt like "Mind map of just the immune system's adaptive response" gives you a focused map instead of an overwhelming one.
• Use custom instructions to set the altitude. Ask for short labels and a shallow map for a quick overview, or tell it to go deep into sub-points for thorough revision.
• Pick Concept Map when relationships matter. If how two ideas relate is the point (cause/effect, depends-on, contrasts-with), Concept Map labels the links so the connections are explicit.
• Combine sources for cross-topic maps. Add two or three readings at once to see how ideas from different sources line up on a single page.
• Map first, then practice. Once the structure is clear, generate flashcards or a quiz from the same material so understanding flows straight into recall.

FAQ

Do I need a file to make a mind map?

No. You can upload a file, pick one from your library, link a Google Drive file, paste a link, or just type a prompt describing the topic. Any single source is enough.

What file types can I use?

PDFs, Word documents, and PowerPoint files from your computer or Google Drive, plus PDF and website links you paste in. You can also build a map from a typed prompt with no file at all.

What format is the mind map?

A downloadable PDF, laid out in the style you choose (Radial Map, Concept Map, Sketchnote, or Minimal). It's saved in your library so you can reopen, download, or share it later.

Can I share my mind map?

Yes. Open the map and share a link so others can view it. See Sharing for how shared links work.

Do I have to wait while it generates?

No. Maps generate in the background — close the window and keep working, and you'll be notified when yours is ready. See Background Tasks.

Is there a limit on how many I can make?

How many AI creations you can make per day depends on your plan. Mind maps share the same daily AI creation allowance as your other AI-generated content. See Plans and Limits for the details.

Related Guides

• Study Guides — a written guide from the same kinds of sources.
• AI Slides — turn a source into a presentable deck.
• Uploading Content — how to add files and links to Scholarly.
• Plans and Limits — daily AI creation allowances by plan.