TOP AI Productivity Apps for Mac: Make Your Work Easier!

Shu Omi
16 Jun 202306:18

TLDRDiscover the latest AI-driven productivity apps for Mac in this engaging review. Explore Embra, which integrates ChatGPT directly into your Mac, now enhanced with plugins for internet access and specialized AI chatbots for tasks like email response and business brainstorming. Dive into Raycast AI, which allows custom AI commands, and Poe, a versatile app that lets you create and interact with customized chatbots. Additionally, learn about a revolutionary laptop stand that transforms into a portable standing desk, and the innovative Ask Rewind app that personalizes your Mac experience by remembering your activities.

Takeaways

  • 📚 Embra is a Mac app that allows users to initiate conversations with ChatGPT and has recently received a significant update with new plugins.
  • 🔍 Embra's new plugin enables ChatGPT to access the internet and generate responses based on search results, which is beneficial for obtaining up-to-date information.
  • 📈 There are currently eight plugins available for Embra, covering a range of functionalities from handling PDFs to finding images on Unsplash.
  • 🤖 Embra also features public agents, which are AI chatbots designed for specific purposes like email responses, business brainstorming, and life coaching.
  • 🆓 Embra is currently free, but it is suggested that this may change in the future.
  • 🚀 Raycast AI is a popular app among Mac users that has been updated to include ChatGPT functionality and offers AI commands or prompts for various tasks.
  • ✍️ With Raycast AI, users can create their own commands for AI, which simplifies the process of using AI for tasks without typing prompts each time.
  • 📱 Poe is an app that supports not only GPT models but also alternatives like Claude and Claude Plus, and allows users to create their own chatbots for various purposes.
  • 💬 Poe's chatbots can be customized for different uses, such as therapy, language learning, and coding assistance, and it has mobile apps for iOS and Android.
  • 💼 The video also features a foldable and portable laptop stand that can be adjusted to different angles for comfort and posture correction, and can be used as a standing desk.
  • 📈 Ask Rewind is an innovative app that records user activities on the Mac and uses this information along with ChatGPT to provide personalized responses and suggestions.
  • 👍 Shu, the presenter, highly recommends the laptop stand for anyone seeking a comfortable workspace or looking to incorporate more standing into their routine.

Q & A

  • What is the primary function of Embra?

    -Embra is an app that allows users to initiate conversations with ChatGPT from anywhere on their Mac, and it has been updated with new plugins to enhance its capabilities.

  • What are some of the new features added to Embra after its recent update?

    -Embra now supports the use of GPT-3.5 or the new GPT-4, and users can install plugins from the plugin store to extend its functionality, such as accessing the internet for generating responses and handling PDF documents.

  • How does the internet access plugin for Embra benefit the user?

    -The internet access plugin allows ChatGPT to generate responses based on the latest information and news from the web, which is helpful since ChatGPT itself does not have real-time data.

  • What are public agents in the context of Embra?

    -Public agents are AI chatbots designed for specific purposes like responding to emails, brainstorming business ideas, providing passive income ideas, or life coaching. They are created with detailed prompts and instructions for easy and immediate use.

  • Is Embra currently free to use?

    -At the time of the video, Embra is free to use, but it is suggested that it may not remain free in the future.

  • What is Raycast AI and how does it differ from Embra?

    -Raycast AI is a popular app among Mac users that allows for quick app launching, note creation, and text translation, among other things. It recently added AI capabilities similar to Embra, but with the addition of AI commands or prompts for various tasks, and the ability for users to create their own commands.

  • What is the cost of using Raycast AI's AI feature?

    -To use the AI feature of Raycast AI, a paid subscription is required, which costs 8 dollars per month.

  • How does Poe differ from Embra and Raycast AI?

    -Poe allows users to access not only GPT-3.5 and GPT-4 but also alternative models like Claude and Claude Plus. It also enables users to create their own chatbots with specific instructions, and it has a mobile app for both iOS and Android.

  • What are some of the custom AI chatbots available in Poe?

    -Poe offers a variety of custom AI chatbots for different purposes, such as a therapy bot, a language tutor chatbot, and a coding bot.

  • What is the laptop stand that Shu recommends in the video?

    -The laptop stand recommended by Shu is a foldable, thin, and lightweight device that can be adjusted to various angles for different uses, such as relieving wrist pain, correcting posture, or as a portable standing desk. It costs $80 and is highly portable.

  • What is Ask Rewind and how does it use AI to assist users?

    -Ask Rewind is an innovative app that keeps a record of everything a user does on their Mac and uses this information along with ChatGPT to provide personalized responses and suggestions. It can answer questions that ChatGPT alone cannot by leveraging the user's personal data and preferences.

  • What is Shu's final recommendation for viewers of the video?

    -Shu encourages viewers to check out the full review of Ask Rewind and how it fits into his workflow, and to like and subscribe to the channel for more content.

Outlines

00:00

📱 Mac Apps with AI Updates

Shu introduces his favorite Mac applications that have received significant AI updates. He discusses Embra, an app that allows initiating conversations with ChatGPT across the Mac and has expanded its capabilities with new plugins. These plugins enable internet access for search-based responses and various utilities like PDF querying and image finding from Unsplash. Shu also mentions public agents designed for specific tasks such as email response, business brainstorming, and life coaching. Embra is currently free, and Shu advises checking it out. He also talks about Raycast AI, a popular app for quick app launching, note creation, and text translation, which now includes AI commands and the ability to create custom prompts. Raycast AI requires a paid subscription. Lastly, Shu mentions Poe, an app for using alternative AI models and creating custom chatbots, which also has mobile apps for iOS and Android.

05:02

💼 Ergonomics and AI Efficiency

Shu recommends a laptop stand that he has been using daily for the past six months, praising its portability, foldability, and adjustability. The stand can be used in various ways to improve comfort and posture, and it can also function as a portable standing desk, which Shu has found beneficial for his health. He provides a link in the description for those interested. Additionally, Shu discusses Ask Rewind, an innovative app that records all activities on the Mac and uses this information along with ChatGPT to provide personalized responses. Shu finds this app to be incredibly helpful and almost like having a human assistant. He encourages viewers to check out his full review of Ask Rewind for more information.

Mindmap

Keywords

💡AI update

An AI update refers to the improvements and enhancements made to an artificial intelligence system. In the context of the video, the AI update is a significant theme as it discusses how recent updates have expanded the capabilities of the featured Mac applications, making them more powerful and useful for productivity.

💡Embra

Embra is an application for Mac that allows users to initiate conversations with ChatGPT from anywhere on their Mac. The recent update to Embra has introduced new plugins, enabling more functionalities such as internet access for ChatGPT and specific responses based on search results, which is a core focus of the video.

💡Plugins

Plugins in the context of the video are add-on components that can be installed into an application to extend its functionality. They are highlighted as a key feature in Embra, allowing users to choose between different AI models and to enhance ChatGPT's capabilities with new features.

💡ChatGPT

ChatGPT is an advanced AI language model developed by OpenAI that can generate human-like text based on given prompts. In the video, it is mentioned as a central feature within the applications Embra and Raycast AI, where it is used to provide conversational AI capabilities and to generate responses.

💡Public agents

Public agents are AI chatbots designed for specific purposes, such as responding to emails or providing life coaching. They are mentioned in the video as a feature of Embra, showcasing how detailed prompts and instructions make these agents easy to use and helpful.

💡Raycast AI

Raycast AI is an application known for its ability to quickly launch apps and perform various tasks on a Mac. The video discusses its recent update, which integrates ChatGPT and introduces AI commands or prompts for improving text, making it a powerful tool for productivity.

💡AI commands or prompts

AI commands or prompts are specific instructions given to an AI system to perform a certain task or generate a particular response. In the context of Raycast AI, these are used to enhance the functionality of the app, allowing users to improve their text with AI assistance without manually typing out prompts.

💡Poe

Poe is an application that allows users to interact with various AI models, including creating their own chatbots. It is highlighted in the video for its versatility, offering alternative AI models and the ability to create customized AI chatbots for different purposes, such as therapy or learning.

💡Therapy bot

A therapy bot is an AI chatbot designed to simulate conversation with a therapist. It is mentioned in the video as an example of a customized AI chatbot available through Poe, which can provide a form of mental health support, especially for those who cannot access traditional therapy.

💡Laptop stand

A laptop stand is a portable device used to elevate a laptop to a comfortable viewing height, which can help with posture and ergonomics. The video features a specific laptop stand that is foldable, lightweight, and can be adjusted to various angles, making it a versatile accessory for creating a comfortable workspace.

💡Ask Rewind

Ask Rewind is an innovative app that records user activities on their Mac and uses this information along with ChatGPT to provide personalized responses and suggestions. It is presented in the video as a tool that can offer insights and answers that are tailored to the user's preferences and activities, enhancing the user's experience with AI.

Highlights

Embra app has received a significant update, allowing users to initiate conversations with ChatGPT and utilize new plugins.

Users can choose between GPT-3.5 or the new GPT-4 for more advanced interactions with ChatGPT.

Embra's plugin store frequently adds new plugins, currently featuring 8 different options.

One plugin enables ChatGPT to access the internet and generate responses based on search results, enhancing its utility.

Embra offers public agents, AI chatbots designed for specific purposes like email responses and life coaching.

Embra is currently free, but its future pricing is uncertain.

Raycast AI is a popular app for Mac that recently added ChatGPT functionality.

Raycast AI includes AI commands or prompts to improve efficiency without manually typing prompts.

Users can create custom commands in Raycast AI, offering a unique feature not yet available in Embra.

Raycast AI requires a paid subscription of $8 per month for its AI feature.

Poe is an app that allows users to access alternative models to GPT, such as Claude and Claude Plus, and create custom chatbots.

Poe offers a mobile app for both iOS and Android, enabling users to continue conversations on the go.

A foldable, lightweight laptop stand is recommended for creating a comfortable and portable workspace.

The laptop stand is adjustable and can be used to correct posture and relieve wrist pain.

Ask Rewind is an innovative app that records user activities on Mac and uses this data with ChatGPT to provide personalized responses.

Ask Rewind offers a human-like assistant experience by knowing user preferences and activities.

The video includes a full review of Ask Rewind and its integration into the user's workflow.