The AI Tools I've Stuck With While Others Tool-Hop

The question I get every time I speak is, "What AI tools are you using?"

It happened again last week after a panel discussion. As the audience filed out, three different people cornered me with the same inquiry, notepads ready, as if I might reveal some secret digital weapon that would transform their workflow overnight. I understand the impulse. With new AI tools launching daily, each promising to revolutionize something, the FOMO is real when it comes to selecting the best AI tools for productivity.

But here's my honest take, The AI tools that matter aren't apps—they're LLMs.: at an entry level, it doesn't really matter what AI model or LLM you use, and it's very hard to argue against ChatGPT. It's like asking a new driver which premium motor oil they prefer. They just need something reliable that starts the car.

As you advance in your journey, multiple models make more sense, and your decision should be made by analyzing the data behind the model and the specific features you need. I have a post that dives into the money behind the data here: Elon Musk Twitter Data Strategy Deep Dive.

What about apps? There are thousands of them, and billions of dollars are flowing into companies and people like Jony Ive to create user interfaces that sit on top of code called Agents, which call one of the major models like ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini, Grok, etc. In fact, OpenAI just announced a $6.5 billion acquisition of Jony Ive's AI device startup io BloombergCNBC, demonstrating how seriously tech giants are taking the race to create the next generation of AI-powered hardware interfaces. So, any app you see out there you can probably recreate to some degree by writing good prompts and subscribing to the right model.

With that said, let me answer the question everyone keeps asking:

I follow two sources for AI knowledge:

• The All In Podcast (allinpodcast.co): For macro-level insights. Hosted by Chamath Palihapitiya, Jason Calacanis, David Sacks, and David Friedberg, this weekly show delivers big-picture analysis on tech, politics, economics, and science. When they discuss AI developments, they connect the dots between technology trends, market forces, and broader societal implications—perfect for understanding where the industry is heading.

• Every.to (every.to): For micro-level deep dives. This newsletter bundle offers detailed, practical analysis of AI tools and their real-world applications. Their writers test tools extensively and provide actionable insights about what actually works, what doesn't, and why. It's where I go to understand the nuances of specific AI implementations and get hands-on guidance.

My Essential AI Tools for Maximum Productivity

• Claude is my primary tool for writing and my go-to for prototyping and creating dashboards and interfaces. Its reasoning capabilities and code generation make it invaluable for both content creation and technical work.

• Grok for search—yes, I find it more useful than traditional search engines in certain contexts, especially for real-time information and connecting disparate pieces of information. You can read more about why I use Grok here.

• ChatGPT for a LOT of things. It's my reliable desktop companion and handles the bulk of my daily AI interactions. ChatGPT is pretty awesome now for images and video, but I'm keeping my eye on Google as I believe they have a leg up on image and video generation based on their library of YouTube videos.

  
  

For organization: I use Lark to organize my work as it includes my Messenger, Email, Wiki, Documents, Spreadsheets, Slides, Video Chat, and more. It's the simplest all-in-one platform I've seen.

I also use my own app Thoughtflow to view my CRM and produce content for my marketing everywhere program. Thoughtflow is essentially a polished UI sitting on top of custom-built AI Agents which connect to my company database running on Supabase.

What I find interesting is that while my list COULD evolve every day, I don't let it. This is actually the same toolkit I had six months ago, with the single addition of Grok. If I let it evolve every day, I'd pull the last hair out of my bald head and get nowhere. The tools themselves matter less than understanding what you're trying to accomplish and how AI can help you get there more efficiently.

The paradox of our current moment is that while everyone is racing to find the perfect AI tools for productivity, the truly valuable skill is learning how to think alongside these systems—knowing when to use them, when to ignore them, and how to evaluate their output critically.

The most successful AI users I know aren't necessarily using the newest or most expensive tools. They're the ones who've developed a clear framework for problem-solving and can adapt that framework to whatever AI capabilities are available. This is why I focus so much on AI in Business strategy rather than just tool selection.

Whether you're looking to become an AI Officer in your organization or simply want to integrate AI more effectively into your workflow, the key is developing strategic thinking around AI implementation rather than chasing the latest shiny object.

In other words, don't worry so much about which AI you're using. Worry about becoming the kind of thinker who can use any AI effectively.

Drop me a line if you'd like to learn more about how I approach AI integration. But remember—the best AI setup is the one that solves your specific problems, not mine.