Most business owners would agree that improving workplace productivity has a direct, positive impact on profitability. AI productivity tools can help with that. A recent Slack survey of over 18,000 desk workers, managers, and executives found that productive workers are 242% more likely to use AI than their less-productive colleagues.
Let’s dive in:
- What are AI productivity tools?
- Benefits of AI for productivity
- 9 of the best AI productivity tools of 2024
What are AI productivity tools?
AI productivity tools are applications and software solutions powered by artificial intelligence (AI) technologies such as machine learning and natural language processing. These tools enhance efficiency and streamline workflows by automating tasks, providing data-driven insights, and facilitating intelligent decision-making. They range from virtual assistants and chatbots to advanced analytics and automation platforms, offering businesses innovative ways to optimize processes, boost productivity, and achieve better overall performance.
Innovative new applications including intelligent AI agents that identify coaching opportunities, offering targeted training for soft skills like empathetic communication, sales effectiveness, team leadership, and more. Unlike traditional approaches, AI-based soft skills training is highly personalized, self-paced, and interactive.
Benefits of AI for productivity
AI productivity tools streamline workflows by automating repetitive tasks, enhancing decision-making through data-driven insights, and optimizing processes for increased efficiency. These tools leverage advanced technologies like machine learning and natural language processing to analyze data, predict patterns, and deliver intelligent summaries and actionable suggestions— contributing to smoother, more streamlined business operations. The result is improved productivity, reduced manual workload, and a more effective utilization of resources.
9 of the best AI productivity tools in 2024
Businesses of all sizes are discovering the powerful benefits of AI for enhancing communication, improving collaboration, and supercharging team productivity. We took a look at the top AI productivity applications for 2024. Here’s how we rated them:
1. RingEX: Automated note-taking, action items & meeting highlights for phone & video calls
RingCentral offers cloud-based communication and collaboration tools, including voice, video, team messaging, and contact center solutions. RingEX is our AI-powered platform for business communications, team collaboration, and so much more. RingEX leverages generative AI to create a neatly organized summary of conversations—complete with notes, actionable tasks, and key moments in recordings highlighted for easy reference. With this intelligence, every conversation can become smarter.
⭐️ BONUS: Think RingEX is cool? You’re going to love RingCX for your customers, too.
2. Grammarly
Grammarly is an AI-based writing assistant trained to improve grammar, spelling, and style. It provides context-aware recommendations that make an individual’s writing more effective and efficient. Grammarly also incorporates a plagiarism checker to safeguard the integrity of written content. It integrates with various platforms, offering consistent support across multiple applications.
3. Otter.ai
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Otter.ai provides cutting-edge AI transcription tools for accurate, real-time transcription and meeting notes. It uses advanced machine learning for precise transcription and is trained to recognize specific industry terms and references to various technologies. It also offers voice command capabilities, which enable users to control the app hands-free, enhancing accessibility. Otter.ai integrates with a range of different collaboration tools for enhanced productivity.
4. Trello
Trello is a collaborative project management tool that uses AI to make smart suggestions for improved outcomes. It can recommend task priorities and deadlines, for example, based on past user behavior. Trello focuses heavily on collaboration, with features like shared boards and real-time status updates. It can also automate repetitive tasks, making project teams more efficient.
5. Microsoft 365
Microsoft 365 is a comprehensive suite of productivity tools from Microsoft, now featuring embedded AI capabilities. The company leverages cloud-based AI to offer seamless collaboration and data accessibility. Microsoft’s enhanced productivity applications integrate AI features such as automatic speech-to-text recognition, suggested word and sentence completion, and enhanced user experiences. Microsoft’s AI tools also provide personalized suggestions and insights to optimize workflows.
6. Slack
Slack is an online collaboration platform that facilitates team communication, task management, and project collaboration. The product incorporates AI technology to prioritize and deliver notifications based on specific users’ preferences. It can also automate workflows, so teams get more work done in less time. Slack’s AI capabilities also extend to efficient content search and archiving within channels.
7. Google Workspace
Google Workspace is the search giant’s paid suite of productivity apps, incorporating enhanced versions of popular tools such as Gmail, Google Calendar, and Google Meet. Incorporated AI features like Smart Compose, which generates predictive text for faster email composition, make it easy to collaborate on documents, sheets, and slides in real time. Naturally, Google Workspace is also very good at search, using AI to deliver quick, highly relevant results.
8. Asana
Asana is a popular project management and team collaboration tool, valued by many for its power and simplicity. The company has implemented AI features that help team members predict project timelines and task dependencies, as well as to allocate resources effectively. Asana helps project managers track progress, with AI-generated recommendations that improve overall outcomes.
9. Evernote
Evernote gained widespread popularity as a general-purpose repository for information of all kinds. The product makes it easy to organize and archive emails, web pages, one-off notes, and other information in a single application. It’s especially adept at searching for information and retrieving the right information quickly. Newer updates to the product include AI-powered note-taking and organization tools appropriate for personal and professional use. Evernote’s Intelligent Tagging feature, for example, automatically suggests tags for efficient note categorization. The product can also recommend related content to enhance the relevance of existing notes. Evernote also uses AI for document scanning and digitization of handwritten notes.
Enhancing workplace productivity with AI
AI productivity tools are becoming a must-have feature of today’s fast-paced, data-driven workplaces. They are reshaping how work is done, making processes more efficient, and enabling businesses and individuals to achieve more with less effort.
AI automation improves workflows and enhances productivity. Organizations that adopt AI-driven solutions will get more work done, and they’ll produce better outcomes. Fortunately, today’s technology vendors offer a wide array of solutions that are easy to implement and use.
Each of the tools in this list has its own distinct role in the ecosystem of AI products. Some, like Google and Microsoft, are direct competitors. Others, such as RingCentral’s RingCX, offer highly differentiated business benefits such as enhancing customer experiences, improving employees’ soft skills, or streamlining communications across multiple channels. Try out RingCentral today to see how it can improve your team’s productivity.
Originally published Mar 19, 2024, updated Nov 21, 2024
