Build Your Personal AI Knowledge Base with WorkBuddy + IMA: A Step-by-Step Guide

Introduction

In 2026, building a personal AI knowledge base is one of the most valuable investments you can make for your productivity. It becomes a long-term digital asset that grows with you, helping you find answers to work problems, create content ideas, or plan travel itineraries faster than ever before.

Many people recommend using Codex + Obsidian, but this combination has two major issues for users in China:

1. Network Barrier: Codex is not accessible in China due to network restrictions.
2. Learning Barrier: Obsidian has too many features, making it difficult for beginners to get started quickly.

Today, I will introduce a solution tailored for domestic users: WorkBuddy + IMA Knowledge Base. This system is designed to be user-friendly, accessible, and powerful.

How the System Works

• WorkBuddy: An AI agent that automatically reads, analyzes, organizes, and summarizes information.
• IMA Knowledge Base: A storage system that stores valuable articles, documents, and content.
• You: The decision-maker who guides the AI and takes action based on its analysis.

With this workflow, you can quickly find answers to any question, from creating viral content ideas to planning travel guides or solving work problems.

Step 1: Download and Install the Tools

Download WorkBuddy

1. Open your browser and go to the official WorkBuddy website.
2. Click the "Download Now" button.
3. Select the installation package that matches your operating system (Mac ARM64, Mac x64, Windows x64, iOS, or Android).
4. Run the installer and follow the prompts to complete the installation.

Download IMA Knowledge Base

1. Open your browser and go to the official IMA website.
2. Click the "Download for Desktop" button.
3. Run the installer and follow the prompts to complete the installation.

Step 2: Connect WorkBuddy to IMA Knowledge Base

Since both are products of Tencent, the official connection is already set up. Here's how to link them:

1. Open WorkBuddy and log in to your account.
2. On the main page, find the "More" option in the left sidebar.
3. Click "IMA Knowledge Base" and then click "Authorize".
4. Scan the QR code with WeChat to complete the authorization process.
5. After authorization, you will be redirected to the IMA Knowledge Base interface.

Verify the Connection

1. In WorkBuddy, create a new task and ask:

Please check if IMA Knowledge Base is connected successfully and list all my knowledge bases.

2. If the connection fails, go to the "Connectors" section in WorkBuddy.
3. Find the IMA connector and click "Connect".
4. Once the connector shows a green dot, repeat the verification step.

Step 3: Use the Knowledge Base

Reference Knowledge Bases in WorkBuddy

1. In the WorkBuddy chat box, click the "More" button in the bottom-left corner.
2. Select "Add File" and then choose "IMA Knowledge Base".
3. Select the knowledge base you want to reference and click "Confirm".
4. Now you can ask WorkBuddy questions based on the content in the knowledge base, such as:

Please summarize the key points of the articles in this knowledge base.

Add Content to the Knowledge Base

1. In WorkBuddy, generate a document or report (e.g., "Create a report on AI agents").
2. Once the document is generated, click the "Upload to Cloud" button.
3. Select "IMA Knowledge Base" and choose the target knowledge base (e.g., "Learning Materials").
4. Click "Confirm" to upload the document.

Step 4: Create and Manage Knowledge Bases

Recommended Knowledge Bases

For beginners, it's best to start with a few basic knowledge bases:

• Learning Materials: Store study notes, courses, and tutorials.
• Current Projects: Store documents related to ongoing work projects.
• Outputs: Store finished reports, articles, and other deliverables.
• Comfort Life: Store travel guides, food recommendations, and lifestyle tips.

Create a New Knowledge Base

1. Open the IMA Knowledge Base interface.
2. Click the "Create Personal Knowledge Base" button.
3. Enter a name for the knowledge base.
4. Select an icon for the knowledge base.
5. Click "Confirm" to create the knowledge base.

Note: You cannot create a knowledge base directly in WorkBuddy. You must do it in the IMA Knowledge Base interface.

Step 5: Add Files to the Knowledge Base

1. Open the IMA Knowledge Base interface.
2. Navigate to the target knowledge base.
3. Click the "+" button in the top-right corner.
4. Select the type of file to upload: local files, WeChat files, personal knowledge bases, web links, notes, Tencent documents, or voice recordings.

Example: Upload a WeChat Public Account Article

1. Open the WeChat public account article in your browser.
2. Copy the article link.
3. In the IMA Knowledge Base, click "+" and select "Web Link".
4. Paste the copied link and click "Import".
5. Wait for the system to parse the article.

Step 6: Advanced Tips

Regular Maintenance

• Organize Regularly: Set a schedule to organize your knowledge base weekly or monthly. This prevents it from becoming a "dead collection" of unused content.
• Protect Privacy: Do not store personal sensitive information, passwords, or confidential documents in the knowledge base, as it is connected to WorkBuddy.

Useful Prompts

Prompt 1: Organize Learning Materials

Please organize the articles in the "Learning Materials" knowledge base.
1. Extract the main points, key concepts, and practical steps from each article.
2. Summarize each article in 3-5 bullet points.
3. Highlight any actionable advice or takeaways.
4. If there are conflicting information, note it down.

Prompt 2: Generate Content Ideas

Based on the content in the "Outputs" knowledge base, generate 5 new content ideas for my blog.
Each idea should include a title, target audience, and key points.

Conclusion

Building a personal AI knowledge base with WorkBuddy and IMA is a powerful way to boost your productivity and organize your digital life. By following these steps, you can create a system that grows with you and helps you find answers faster than ever before.

Remember: (1) Start with a few basic knowledge bases and expand as you get more comfortable. (2) Regularly organize your knowledge base to keep it useful. (3) Protect your privacy by not storing sensitive information. With this system, you'll have a second brain that works for you 24/7, helping you achieve more in less time.

常见问题

Why WorkBuddy + IMA instead of Codex + Obsidian?

Two reasons specific to Chinese users: (1) Accessibility — Codex requires network configurations that are unreliable in China, while WorkBuddy is a domestic product with no access barriers. (2) Simplicity — Obsidian is powerful but has a steep learning curve with its plugin system, markdown syntax, and graph views. IMA is designed for simplicity: install, authorize with WeChat, and start adding content. For users who want a knowledge base that works today without weeks of configuration, WorkBuddy + IMA is the pragmatic choice. If you're outside China or already comfortable with Obsidian, Codex + Obsidian remains a strong option.

Is IMA Knowledge Base free?

Yes, IMA is a free Tencent product with generous storage for personal use. WorkBuddy's free tier is sufficient for knowledge base management tasks. The only potential cost is if you exceed WorkBuddy's free usage quotas with very large knowledge bases or frequent AI-powered analysis. For most individual users managing a few knowledge bases with hundreds of articles, the free tier is more than adequate.

Can I share my knowledge base with my team?

IMA supports shared knowledge bases, but the article focuses on personal use. For team sharing, you'd create a shared knowledge base in IMA and grant access to team members. WorkBuddy's Project function (covered in other WorkBuddy guides) enables team collaboration with shared materials and standards. The combination — IMA for knowledge storage + WorkBuddy Projects for AI-powered collaboration — creates a lightweight team knowledge management system without the overhead of enterprise wiki tools.

What types of content can I store in IMA?

IMA supports: local files and folders, WeChat files (direct import from WeChat), web links (auto-parsed articles), personal notes, Tencent documents, and voice recordings. The web link parser is particularly useful — paste a WeChat public account article URL, and IMA extracts the full text with formatting. This makes it easy to build a knowledge base from the content you already consume daily. The only limitation: very large files (100MB+) may take longer to process, and some paywalled content may not parse correctly.