Manthan Patel

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I spent $4,200 on AI tools last year just to find out that most of them are just wrappers for a lack of process.

It is a painful realization. You buy the seat, you add the Chrome extension, and you wait for the magic to happen. Then you realize you're just spending more time managing the tool than doing the work.

I decided to strip it all back to zero. No tools, no automations, just a blank cursor and a timer.

1️⃣ The tool doesn't solve the problem; it only accelerates your existing solution.

2️⃣ If you can't describe the workflow on a napkin, you can't automate it in Claude.

3️⃣ Most "AI features" are just distractions from the core output.

I brought back exactly three tools. Not because they were flashy, but because they owned the outcome instead of just giving me more text to edit.

One of them is a research agent that runs while I sleep. I don't check it until 9am. It doesn't ask for permission; it just delivers the briefing.

That is the shift. Moving from "using AI" to "deploying agents."

One requires your constant attention. The other gives you your time back.

Over to you: if you had to delete every AI tool except one, which one stays on the dock?

#AIWorkflows #Productivity #Founders

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