Best Tools For Automating Daily Work Tasks

People have asked me what my AI productivity stack looks like. Here's a list of my 3 best AI tools that I use to scale myself, as a startup founder. 1) Zapier Zapier helps me automate workflows across different apps without coding. Put simply, you can eliminate a lot of mind-numbing, mundane tasks like data entry. I've used it to automate tasks like: (i) pinging users on WhatsApp after they've signed up on Peek, and (ii) updating call summaries into our CRM. They've made it possible to create these workflows by simply telling its AI zap creator what you want it to do. 2) Fireflies.ai As a founder, some days I have to be on calls for hours; with existing clients or onboarding new ones. But taking calls is the easy part. Generating summaries to keep track of what was discussed, and following up on actionable items is where it gets harder to keep up. Fireflies uses AI to help me transcribe, summarize, and follow up on calls with the help of Zapier. 3) Cursor (by Anysphere) I've previously written about how I build mini webapps to validate demand for a feature idea - before committing any engineering time and resources to build it into the product. Cursor is an AI code editor that helps me write code using natural language. So even as a non-technical founder, I can quickly build "minimally viable features" without having to distract my tech team. Personal finance is one area of our lives where AI can help you stay on top of otherwise very messy, and frustrating tasks. At Peek, we're trying to use AI to be your personal CFO. I'm always curious to know how you are using AI tools in your own work to supercharge your productivity. Let me know the best hacks you've discovered!

People always ask how I actually use AI in my own workday. Here’s a behind-the-scenes look at the 3 AI tools I personally use every day — and how they help me stay productive, focused, and sane. A professional chef doesn’t need 100 knives to cook a great meal — they just need 3 or 4 perfect ones. AI works the same way. It’s not about stacking tools — it’s about finding the few that fit your workflow perfectly. 1 . Calendar AI I remember my days managing global teams across time zones. Scheduling became a full-time job itself. Now, I let an AI tool integrated with my calendar handle the jigsaw puzzle of my schedule - optimizing meetings, reducing conflicts, and blocking time for focused work. Pro tip: Train your AI with your preferences. I've taught mine that I need thinking blocks in the morning and prefer meetings after 11 am. 2 . Task AI Having managed teams of 832 people globally, I know the pain of prioritization. I've embedded my criticality-complexity framework into my task management tool - it doesn't just track your to-do list but intelligently prioritizes based on impact, deadlines, and available time. This isn't about handing over control - it's having a strategic partner that helps you focus limited time on what truly matters. 3. Meeting Transcription We've all been in meetings where we're frantically taking notes while trying to meaningfully participate - like trying to drive while texting. AI transcription tools free you to be fully present. They capture everything, generate summaries, and highlight action items. When I run strategic meetings, I assign a "human reviewer" to validate AI notes. The human-AI partnership is where magic happens. The power of these tools isn't in automating tasks - it's in augmenting your capabilities. Used correctly, AI can become your own personal Iron Man suit. What is your favorite AI tool? Let’s share our favorites in the comments.

I let AI run my week—here’s what actually helped. Over the past few months, I’ve tested some of the best AI tools and these rose to the top for everyday use: 1. ChatGPT by OpenAI My personal advisor and editor. I’ve used it to: • Research industry trends and top players • Build travel itineraries • Draft action plans • Prep for tough conversations Best for: turning rough thoughts into clear, confident writing—fast. 2. Copilot by Microsoft A quiet powerhouse that works where you do—Word, Outlook, Excel. It helped me: • Summarize complex email threads • Rewrite responses with the right tone • Auto-generate meeting transcriptions and recaps in Teams Best for: seamless productivity inside the Microsoft 365 suite. 3. Perplexity AI by Perplexity Basically the Google you wish you had. No SEO fluff, no ad-stuffed links—just direct, cited answers. Great for question-driven tasks: understand a topic or summarize findings. Best for: quick, confident research when time (and patience) is short. ⸻ Honorarable Mentions (still very cool!) •Notion AI – Great for organizing thoughts, goals, and life admin •Grammarly GO – Sharpens tone, fixes flow, and makes you sound like you had plenty of sleep •Otter.ai – Perfect for cross-platform (Zoom, Google Meet) or in-person voice-to-text, especially if you’re not using Teams •IBM watsonx Assistant – Enterprise-grade AI for automation, chatbots, and internal enterprise Q&A • Claude by Anthropic – Incredible for long-form writing, digesting docs and books, and nuanced reasoning—but less integrated into daily tools ⸻ Tips: • Try multiple tools for the same task—see which one thinks like you. • Ask AI to match your tone and priorities. • Don’t just dabble—push the tools. They’re more capable than you think. Most offer free access to start, with advanced features unlocked through monthly or enterprise plans. What’s in your everyday AI stack? #AIForLife #EverydayAI #ChatGPT #MicrosoftCopilot #PerplexityAI #ClaudeAI #GrammarlyGO #NotionAI #OtterAI #watsonx #IBM #watsonx #WorkSmarter #TechForGood #AIStack #LifelongLearning