Aydın Tiryaki and Gemini AI (2025)

The human mind is a vast data repository, yet it often struggles to retrieve the simplest “labels.” We are all familiar with that frustrating moment: “It’s on the tip of my tongue, but I just can’t remember it.” Known in literature as Lethologica, this phenomenon is one of the most fragile and human gaps in our nature. This article explores the conceptual foundations and implementation principles of the “Tip of My Tongue” (TOT) project, which positions artificial intelligence as an “external memory unit” to bridge this cognitive gap.

​1. The “Tip of My Tongue” Database: A Dynamic Memory Archive

​The primary goal of the project is to create a “Collaborative Memory” that stores names, places, and concepts that a person occasionally forgets but which hold significant importance in their life. This memory operates through the following stages:

• ​Categorization: Information is not stored randomly; it is organized using filters such as “Personal Names,” “Places,” “Concepts,” or “Former Colleagues.”
• ​Frequency-Based Logic (The +1 System): Every time a word is forgotten and later retrieved, a “+1” point is added to that entry. Consequently, words that cause the most “mental skidding” rise to the top of the list, appearing as the fastest options during the next lapse.
• ​Recording and Confirmation Loop: When the user eventually recalls the missing word, they trigger the system solely to update the record and strengthen the neural-digital link.

​2. Minimalist Interface and “Noise-Free” Technology

​Unlike the cluttered and exhausting interfaces of modern AI applications, the “Tip of My Tongue” project operates on a “Micro-App” logic. This specialized interface opens only when needed (when the user says, “It’s on the tip of my tongue”). To avoid disrupting mental focus, it concentrates strictly on the relevant topic and closes automatically once the task is complete. This “open-act-exit” principle allows the user to receive technological support without breaking their cognitive flow.

​3. Voice Companionship and Accessibility

​The most advanced stage of the project is the “hands-free” mode, functioning even while the phone is in a pocket. Operating solely through voice waves and auditory feedback, this system assists the user particularly while on the move or in social settings. Having an AI discreetly whisper options serves as a digital “social shield,” preserving the user’s confidence.

​4. Humanitarian Aid and Health Perspective

​Why was the name “Tip of My Tongue” chosen instead of medical terminology? Clinical labels (such as forgetfulness or dementia) can trigger defensive mechanisms and discourage system use. In contrast, “Tip of My Tongue” is a warm, natural, and relatable concept. This project serves as a “Cognitive Orthosis,” protecting the quality of life and dignity of individuals—especially during the natural cognitive changes associated with aging.

​Conclusion

The “Tip of My Tongue” project demonstrates that AI can be more than just a data-providing robot; it can be a “cognitive prosthesis” that completes the missing pieces of human experience. When human observation meets the data-processing power of AI, forgetting is no longer a loss but becomes a part of a shared, resilient memory.

Aydın Tiryaki and Gemini AI

Ankara, December 26, 2025

​A Note on Methods and Tools: All observations, ideas, and solution proposals in this study are the author’s own. AI was utilized as an information source for researching and compiling relevant topics strictly based on the author’s inquiries, requests, and directions; additionally, it provided writing assistance during the drafting process.

(The research-based compilation and English writing process of this text were supported by AI as a specialized assistant.)