What AI Tools Should I Be Using?

The wrong question. The right question: what do you spend the most time on this week, and what AI tool compresses that?

Audit Your Week

• Write down what took the most time last week.
• Find the top three time sinks.
• For each, identify whether AI compresses the work 3x or more.
• Pick a tool for the top one. Trial for two weeks.

Common Time Sinks and Their Tools

• Writing copy and content — Claude with brand-voice prompt.
• Customer support replies — Intercom Fin or native ticketing AI.
• Coding — Cursor or GitHub Copilot.
• Meeting notes and follow-up — Granola or Fathom.
• Data and analytics queries — Hex or Julius.
• Research — Perplexity Pro.

Why This Beats the Twitter List

Twitter recommends tools based on what is interesting, not what is highest-leverage for you. A tool that saves someone else 5 hours a week may save you zero. The audit reveals which tool actually pays back.

The Stack to Aim For

3-5 AI tools, used daily. More than that means you are sampling instead of compounding.

When to Add the Next Tool

• The current tools are habituated (you reach for them without thinking).
• You have a new highest-time-sink that the current stack does not address.
• The new tool clearly outperforms a current one — switch, don't stack.