Productivity Tools in 2025: What to Use, What to Ignore, and What’s Next

This episode explores the evolving landscape of productivity software in 2025, focusing on the impact of AI and offering practical advice for choosing the right tools. Against the backdrop of daily inquiries about specific productivity apps, host Tiago interviews Francesco D’Alessio, an app expert, to address this common challenge. More significantly, Francesco introduces the RTO method (Research, Trial, Optimize) as a structured approach to selecting and using productivity tools, contrasting it with the less effective "JTO" method (Jump, Transfer, Obsess). For instance, he suggests starting with basic, built-in apps before exploring third-party options, focusing on core functionalities like task management, note-taking, and calendar scheduling. As the discussion pivots to AI's influence, Francesco highlights the shift from manual administrative tasks to AI-powered automation, emphasizing the increasing importance of decision-making and creativity. He shares his personal tech stack, including Todoist, Craft, and Superhuman, showcasing the integration of AI features like search and auto-compose. Finally, the conversation touches upon the integration of various modalities (visual, textual, voice) in productivity tools and the challenges of AI-driven task scheduling, concluding with insights into the future of voice-activated productivity tools and the ongoing evolution of the productivity software landscape.