AI recommendations
Last updated:
There is already more AI advice than anyone can reasonably keep up with, and much of it becomes outdated quickly. This is a practical collection of tools, technologies, people and techniques that I currently find useful.
They are recommendations, not universal rules. What makes sense for you will depend on your work, budget and how much complexity you want to manage.
Models
GPT5.6 Sol (USD100 / month)
My preferred model for 90% of work. It is on par with Claude Fable and Opus 5, but is more token/cost effective.
Claude 5 Opus or Fable (USD20 / month)
For when I want a "second opinion" from a completely different model.
AI Tools
cmux
My preferred terminal for running multiple agents across projects, with workspaces and notifications that keep parallel work manageable. It's a coding tool, but I use it for ~90% of my AI work.
Visual Studio Code
For reviewing and editing code, and most of my git activities.
Claude Desktop
While I prefer CMUX for most work, the desktop apps provide a cleaner interface for certain tasks, and easier handling of projects and scheduled tasks.
ChatGPT Desktop
Same reasoning as Claude Desktop.
"Skill Manager"
A Mac app that I have built to manage AI skills across all my projects. I am still considering whether to release it publicly, but let me know if you want to give it a try.
MacOS Tools
Obsidian
Markdown is the preferred language for AI, and Obsidian is a great tool for working with markdown in a "human-friendly" way.
Raycast
A great tool for quickly launching apps, running scripts, and managing workflows, although the new MacOS Spotlight has caught up in many ways.
Aerospace
Working with multiple agents across multiple projects is easier with multiple screens, and Aerospace fills a gap left by MacOS's native window management.
YouTube channels
Nate B. Jones
A daily editorial on major AI news and trends.
Nate Herk
Hands-on tutorials about AI automation, agents and workflows.
Fireship
Short, entertaining updates on developer tools and AI technology.
Theo
Opinionated commentary focused on software development and AI coding tools.