Claire Vo · 2 min read · Productivity
I built a custom Slack inbox. It was easier than you’d think. | Yash Tekriwal (Clay)
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Yash Tekriwal shows how he built a custom Slack inbox that categorizes 150+ daily notifications into action-required, need-to-read, and FYI buckets, using Perplexity Computer and OpenClaw to create a personal command center. He also shares an anti-to-do list framework, the distinction between using AI for deterministic versus subjective tasks, and why micro-software will drive productivity in the next wave of tooling.
Key Takeaways
- Build a Slack digest to collapse 150+ notifications into three action states (action-required, need-to-read, FYI) to reduce cognitive load.
- Perplexity Computer and OpenClaw can accelerate prototyping and automation for personal productivity apps.
- Use AI for deterministic tasks (APIs, structured data) versus subjective tasks (categorization, summarization).
- Adopt an anti-to-do list framework: automate tasks you never want to do again, dedicating time to automation itself.
- Micro-software and cross-functional prototyping will shape the next wave of productivity tooling.
Excerpt
Yash Tekriwal is the head of education at Clay. A self-described hyper-optimizer, Yash has built multiple custom productivity applications using Perplexity Computer and OpenClaw to manage his overwhelming daily workflow—including a Slack digest system that categorizes over 150 daily notifications into actionable priorities, and a consolidated news/email/Slack dashboard that serves as his personal command center. Listen or watch on YouTube , Spotify , or Apple Podcasts What you’ll learn: How Yash built a custom Slack digest that categorizes 150+ daily notifications into action-required, need-to-read, and FYI buckets Why Perplexity Computer beats Claude Code and Codex for building personal productivity apps…