The AI Stack You’ll Actually Use
Your go-to toolkit for working smarter, not harder—in 2025 and beyond
Let’s face it—keeping up with AI tools is a full-time job.
New ones launch daily. Most feel like shiny toys. But a few? They actually make you faster, sharper, and better at what you do.
After testing dozens (and ignoring hundreds), here’s my curated shortlist: the AI stack that’s quietly reshaping how modern operators get things done.
From scheduling to storytelling, slide decks to search, these tools are the quiet workhorses behind today’s top performers.
💼 Daily Ops & Productivity
Lindy – Your AI assistant for inbox, calendar, and workflows
Notion AI – Still one of the best for structured knowledge, tasks, and docs
Concierge AI – Search your files, docs, and systems like a second brain
Howie – Streamlines scheduling without the back-and-forth
Wispr Flow + superwhisper – Voice-powered dictation that actually works
🧠 Research, Writing & Thinking
Perplexity – Still unmatched for fast, reliable research
Claude AI + ChatGPT – Best combo for deep ideation + longform writing
editGPT + QuillBot – Clean up your drafts with grammar and clarity polish
Distill – Great for researching people before meetings or outreach
Particle – Smart, AI-curated news you’ll actually retain
🎙️ Meetings, Media & Content
Granola – AI meeting notes with context you won’t forget
Limitless – IRL meeting recording and transcription (great for offline convos)
ElevenLabs – Turn podcasts or voice notes into structured summaries
✍️ Design, Slides & Storytelling
FLORA – Beautiful AI-generated visuals without the learning curve
Napkin AI – Visual thinking and diagrams, made fast
Gamma – AI presentation creation that doesn’t look like it was made in 5 seconds
⚒️ Building & Prototyping
bolt.new or Lovable – AI tools to spin up full apps from prompts
Happenstance – AI-powered way to surface relevant people in your network
Final Thought
AI isn’t magic. But when used intentionally, it’s like adding a few extra hours to your day—and a few extra brains to your team.
This list isn’t exhaustive (yet). But it’s what I’d recommend to any founder, marketer, or builder trying to work smarter in today’s noisy landscape.
P.S. What tools are you using that I didn’t mention?
I’m always on the lookout—drop your picks in the comments.
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