OmniFocus, a popular task management application, is now incorporating generative artificial intelligence in a way that keeps it offline, private, and customizable. This new approach sets it apart from other apps that are adding AI features in an overt and marketing-driven manner.
The development team at Omni wants to empower users to set up AI according to their preferences, rather than bombarding them with pop-ups and emails. Instead, the average user will not see any prominent reminders or notifications about using AI in the application itself. However, for those who are interested, AI can be added as a potential tool for building automations or installing ones created by others.
To access these new features, users need to be running one of Apple's latest operating systems (macOS, iOS, and iPadOS) that support third-party applications utilizing Foundation, the large language model powering Apple Intelligence. They also require an up-to-date version of OmniFocus, which is currently the only app in the Omni suite that supports AI.
For those who want to explore the possibilities of AI in their workflow, there are numerous automations available that can be installed and used with just a click. These include the "Help Me Plan" automation, which breaks down any task in your inbox into subtasks, and the "Clipboard Events" automation, which turns whatever's on your clipboard into a task or multiple tasks.
The team behind Omni has designed these automations with power users in mind, aiming to create an ecosystem where enthusiasts can build upon AI in ways that fit their workflow. According to Naomi Pearce of Omni Group, this is just the beginning and not even liftoff – it's early days for integrating AI into workflows.
This approach mirrors a trend seen in other applications like Substage, which uses machine intelligence features in a way that doesn't require much thought about the technology itself. With AI becoming increasingly integral to our daily lives, it will be interesting to see how this integration becomes even more seamless and invisible over time.
The development team at Omni wants to empower users to set up AI according to their preferences, rather than bombarding them with pop-ups and emails. Instead, the average user will not see any prominent reminders or notifications about using AI in the application itself. However, for those who are interested, AI can be added as a potential tool for building automations or installing ones created by others.
To access these new features, users need to be running one of Apple's latest operating systems (macOS, iOS, and iPadOS) that support third-party applications utilizing Foundation, the large language model powering Apple Intelligence. They also require an up-to-date version of OmniFocus, which is currently the only app in the Omni suite that supports AI.
For those who want to explore the possibilities of AI in their workflow, there are numerous automations available that can be installed and used with just a click. These include the "Help Me Plan" automation, which breaks down any task in your inbox into subtasks, and the "Clipboard Events" automation, which turns whatever's on your clipboard into a task or multiple tasks.
The team behind Omni has designed these automations with power users in mind, aiming to create an ecosystem where enthusiasts can build upon AI in ways that fit their workflow. According to Naomi Pearce of Omni Group, this is just the beginning and not even liftoff – it's early days for integrating AI into workflows.
This approach mirrors a trend seen in other applications like Substage, which uses machine intelligence features in a way that doesn't require much thought about the technology itself. With AI becoming increasingly integral to our daily lives, it will be interesting to see how this integration becomes even more seamless and invisible over time.
. Most apps are all about hawking their AI features like they're the next big thing, but Omni's just letting users opt-in when they want to get involved. I mean, who doesn't hate those annoying pop-ups and emails, right? 
It's also great that they're creating these automations for power users, 'cause I'm all about customizing my workflow to get stuff done faster 
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. Less noise, more control – what's not to like? 
! No more annoying pop-ups or emails bombarding me about using AI in my task management app 
. I can finally customize it to fit my workflow without being distracted by all the marketing hype. It's so refreshing to see a developer putting users first for once! 
And I'm intrigued by these automations that can help me streamline my tasks - the "Help Me Plan" automation sounds like a total game-changer 
. Can't wait to dive in and explore what other possibilities AI brings to the table... this is exactly what I've been waiting for! 
I'm loving this move by OmniFocus! Who needs a bunch of annoying pop-ups and emails telling them they can use AI? 
. And I gotta say, these automations sound like total game-changers - "Help Me Plan" is basically my new BFF when it comes to tackling those pesky inbox tasks 
. Can't wait to dive in and see what other goodies they have cooking! 
! I mean, think about it - you use apps like OmniFocus every day to manage your tasks and stuff, but most of the time you don't even notice they're using AI or not. it's like, isn't that cool? 
. The ones I've tried so far, like the "Help Me Plan" automation, have been game changers. I can break down any task into manageable chunks and have it pop up in my focus list. It's all about creating an ecosystem where power users can build upon AI to fit their workflow. Can't wait to see how this evolves 
. The "Help Me Plan" automation sounds like a total game-changer for anyone who's ever struggled with breaking down massive tasks into smaller ones 
That's what I call convenience!
, creating an ecosystem where enthusiasts can build upon AI in ways that fit their workflow 
. Bring on the future of workflows! 
. It's refreshing to see a developer-led initiative that prioritizes user autonomy and customization, rather than bombarding us with overt marketing messages 
. The fact that users can opt-in to AI features without being nagged or interrupted is a huge win for those of us who value our workflow and productivity 
. I'm excited to explore the various automations available and see how they'll shape the future of task management 
. As Naomi Pearce puts it, this is just the beginning – I'm eager to see how AI becomes even more woven into our daily lives 
. First, it's just little things like automating stuff, but next thing you know, it's controlling everything 
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can't wait to see what other automations come out and how we can use them to boost our productivity!