How AI Apps Are Changing Productivity on Mac (And the Best Ones to Try in 2025)
May 19, 2025
Let’s face it: the way we work on our Macs is changing. If you’ve ever found yourself lost in a sea of messy folders or dreading another tedious batch file conversion, you’re not alone. Mac users everywhere want their files organized and their workflows frictionless but real life doesn’t always cooperate.
In 2025, AI-powered utilities are finally making productivity feel effortless. Whether you want to automate file management or summon command-line magic without ever opening Terminal, a new wave of tools is here to help. Two standout apps Substage and Fenn show just how powerful (and surprisingly fun) this new era can be.
Substage: Command-Line Power, Plain English Ease
Imagine if Finder understood everything you wanted to do just by asking in plain English. That’s the magic of Substage: a natural language command bar that docks beneath your Finder windows and gives you instant superpowers.
What makes Substage unique?
Type what you want, and it happens.
Need to convert images, compress files, check metadata, or batch-rename in seconds? Just tell Substage:“Convert to 1080p mp4”
“Zip these up”
“Word count?”
“What processor does this Mac have?”
“Make a new readme.txt”
Real AI-under-the-hood.
Substage takes your prompt, translates it into a safe Terminal command using advanced AI models (GPT-4.1 mini, OpenAI, Anthropic, Google, or even your own local models), and runs it—no guesswork required.Risk assessment and confirmation.
It won’t let you run dangerous commands by accident. When something looks risky, it asks before proceeding.Total privacy control.
You can choose to run Substage with your own AI keys or local models for sensitive work—so your files and file names stay private.
“Substage is one of the most clever AI-powered utilities that I’ve used on my Mac so far.”
— John Voorhees, Managing Editor, MacStories
Who is Substage for?
Anyone who dreads the command line, but loves what it can do. Designers, developers, video editors, and power users: Substage makes batch operations, file conversions, and everyday chores as easy as asking for what you want.
No Terminal skills needed.
Try Substage for free (macOS 15 Sequoia or newer).
Fenn: Find Anything, Organize Nothing
We all wish our Mac folders were perfectly named and filed. Reality? Chaos wins especially when deadlines (and life) get in the way. That’s why Fenn exists: to make finding what you need instant and painless, no matter how disorganized your files are.
What makes Fenn a game-changer?
Search like you think.
Use natural language, keywords, or even fragments of what you remember. Fenn uses hybrid search (semantic and classic keyword) to track down files even if you only vaguely remember the name, the contents, or the type.Skip the manual organization.
Want to filter by file type, date, or folder? Fenn gives you power-user filters without ever touching your folder structure.Find anything, from anywhere.
Whether it’s an old contract, a half-finished project, or yesterday’s screenshots, Fenn surfaces it instantly. Stop wasting hours organizing and start finding.
Why this matters
In the real world, we don’t always have time to file everything correctly. But with AI search, you don’t have to. Fenn gives you a shortcut to digital peace of mind:
No more naming anxiety.
No more digging through nested folders.
No more missing files at the worst possible moment.
“Fenn is for everyone who wants clean folders but lives in the real world.”
Productivity Is Getting Smarter
The age of AI isn’t about robots replacing us, it’s about giving Mac users more headspace for the stuff that matters. With tools like Substage and Fenn, the old rules of file management, batch conversions, and endless searching are finally obsolete.
Ready to reclaim your time (and your sanity)?
Use Substage to control your Mac with natural language and never Google or ChatGPT a command again.
Use Fenn to find anything, no organizing required.
Try them both. Your future self will thank you.