I've ADHD and I'm on the spectrum. Others may differ - it's a spectrum after all- but I feel no list-only app will ever silence the drunk baboon on my shoulder constantly pulling my attention from what I'm doing.
I'd advise goblin.tools to market itself differently and aim for the neurotypical market as well.
#my2cents
> goblin.tools is written and maintained by Bram De Buyser, an AI, software and data engineer.
I'm not saying that a semicolon and an Oxford comma are _necessary_, here - but I am saying that I did a double-take at my first interpretation that we are now naming and personifying AIs.
I am neurodivergent. Yet, this website (while well-intentioned) feels chaotic, offering too many things (I bet the author is neurodivergent as well :)). So, instead of doing something from the TODO, I want to give the professor mode a try.
In any case, I saw quite a few time something "expanding the list". Usually it works less than anything that actually asks you on the next step - in this case, my go-to are recent LLM models. For example, it split "take out the trash" into 8 steps - quite a lot of detail, even for an autist.
I asked it to break down eating a pie, this is what I got:
Choose a pie
Gather necessary utensils (fork, plate, napkin)
Place the pie on the plate
Cut a slice of the pie
Pick up the slice with the fork
Bring the slice to your mouth
Take a bite of the pie
Chew and savor the flavor
Repeat until finished
Dispose of any leftovers responsibly
Clean up the utensils and plate
Maybe an absurd example but I feel like something like this makes it seem even more intimidating to do basic tasks
This is a great use for LLMs because anywhere that they can get someone over the activation energy requirement of the blank page effect, it's okay if they're wrong – it's much easier to correct a wrong broken-down list than start it oneself.
I cautiously like this. I asked it to break down “clean the bathroom” and it gave me a reasonable series of steps.
It then gave a time estimate of 3 hours 25 minutes, but I know from my own time tracking that doing a similar series of steps takes me 40 minutes on average.
It seems to overestimate the time taken to do very simple tasks, so if you break the task down too far then it will always wildly overestimate. Perhaps a fix would be to ask the LLM to make one estimate for the overall task, make separate estimates for each subtask, and then ask it to reconcile the two? Something like chain-of-thought/reasoning.
Oh hey! I made something like this that integrates with TickTick
https://github.com/Podginator/TickGPTick
It needs updating, but basically you set a tag that let’s you expand tasks out much in the way goblin tools does.
Nice. AI-powered replacement for my missing executive function. Now I just have to remember to use it…
Diversity makes teams stronger but makes clear communication harder. 20% of the population aren't neurotypical... they're simply not wired the same way. Throw in cultural differences.
I was so excited when I found The Judge: Am I misreading the tone of this?
What a wonderful tool to have at hand when things go awry in email threads, chat rooms etc.
Pretty neat. The automatic breakdowns are cool, but you absolutely need to move the delete button inline. Confirm dialog if there are items beneath it, otherwise just delete.
Generated like 10 sub-items for me, 5 of which were relevant. But to remove the 5 junk ones, you have to open the dropdown for each and hit delete.
With the Estimator I asked...
How long to build a Space Shuttle? "5 to 10 years"
How long to build a Time Machine? "5 to 50 years"
Tearing down the governance systems of the United States of America and replacing them with a dictatorship? "Several months to several years"
Curiously, or not, I'm not sure what the expectation is, it seemed to quickly enter somewhat of an infinite loop then I started with "What is the meaning of life?". Around level 3 or 4 each simplification is essentially what was presented for that item in the prior list. Maybe some hidden meaning there ...
What used to work for me is to build a single list every morning (based on yesterdays list) and then just do it one after another without allowing myself to prioritise after that point.
My largest executive function issue is the guilt of not doing some other thing.
If I have a very stressful situation, I can easily organise my thoughts and ruthlessly prioritise what is important from what is not important.
In "peace" times, this doesn't work at all, and instead if I have something that I know will take half a day (say, for example, fixing a subtle bug in the email system) then I will feel guilty about doing that over something else (say: doing paperwork for the worked hours that month).
Thus, I do neither. Until one becomes critical.
It's fucking stupid, but I can't fix it.
Nice! Great idea and focus.
I have a similar function built into my app, which takes the proposed name for a checklist and description and uses it to generate steps. Have heard many use it for executive function management: https://steplist.app
Okay, I wasted a few minutes in The Judge. It's too damn hilarious giving it a passage that insults the reader's mother in fine detail and then having the AI explain very politely and patiently why someone might take offense to that.
I'd really love a voice based AI tool that will follow up with me on projects and next steps.
So like I'm renovating a house and I've got to find someone to help with drywall, get a new top of the septic, get quotes on the driveway, etc. Multiply this a few times with my job and side project and so on.
It would be great if it would just ask me what's new with each thing and update tasks and remind me to follow up with the person not calling me back etc. Of course, all this can be done in your mind or with Todo apps but just something to talk to and nudge would be great.
"Drink water", extra spicy:
---->
Identify the need to stay hydrated
Determine the time of day to drink water
Locate a clean source of water
Decide which container to use for drinking
If using a bottle, check if it’s clean
If using a glass, wash it if necessary
Go to the location of the water source
Open the water source
If it’s a tap, turn on the faucet
If it’s a bottled water, twist off the cap
Position your chosen container under the water source
Fill the container with water
Monitor the amount of water being poured
Stop pouring when the container is sufficiently full
Turn off the water source if applicable
If using a bottle, securely close the cap
If using a glass, hold the glass in your hand
Bring the container close to your mouth
Tilt the container slightly
Allow the water to flow into your mouth
Ensure that you are swallowing the water
Continue drinking until you feel satisfied
Place the container back down on a surface
If applicable, wipe your mouth with a tissue
Notice how your body feels after drinking
Reflect on the importance of hydration
Make a mental note to drink water regularly
Plan for the next time to drink water
If you have used a glass, wash it after use
If using a bottle, check if it needs refilling
Recognize when your thirst returns
Consider drinking water with meals in the future
Remind others around you about the benefits of drinking water
Incorporate water-drinking breaks into your daily routine
Stay aware of your personal hydration goals
Adjust your water intake based on physical activity
Explore flavored water options if desired
Track your water consumption if it helps you stay accountable
Celebrate when you reach your hydration goals
When I open the app and am greeted by a mostly blank screen with an empty todo list, the first thing I think is "How is this different from any other task manager app? How do use it in a way that would help me?".
And then I close the tab! (naturally, ofc)
A little bit of onboarding / guidance on how neurodiverge peeps can get the most out of it would go a long way.
Haha Magic ToDo is fun. I got a reasonable set of steps for a project and when I'm in the "whatever, just tell me what to do" overwhelmed/surrender mode this would be great. Also love that subtasks can be easily broken down into subsubtasks with a click.
Would love this as a todoist extension for brainstorming subtasks.
Yeah, randomly AI-generating a large list of imagined sub tasks is just the thing to manage e.g. ADHD.
You want to do this well, lean into pre-defined (and user-defined!) checklists instead. Sure, use AI to help people generate the checklist if you must, but the value is having a repeatable procedure.
So how many neuro-divergent people did you test this on before you made the claim that it would help them?
Dish Name: Simmered Water Broth
Serving Size: 1 cup (240 ml)
Ingredients:
- Water: 1 cup (240 ml)
adhd here. bad enough to not graduate from high school on time. I have been medicated for a decade now and I dream of finally having built my systems around life up to the degree that I feel good about discontinuing them. It's not good for you to be on stimulants every day like I am. If your flavor of adhd is mild and the functional impairment you have doesn't literally ruin your life, consider working your way up the theraputic ladder from therapy with an ADHD specialized therapist, starting meds only if necessary. Consider your goals wrt your brain stuff and measure your results against that. Don't get on the meds unless you have to.
One of the best tools I've seen this year!
I'm not sure about "neurodivergent people" part though. I don't think I'd call myself neurodivergent or anything close. Pretty sure the app will be useful for anyone.
I do like the idea, but here is my first experience: I added "Launch MyProjectName website" (using the real name) and here's what it generated as sub tasks:
- Open a web browser
- Type "MyProjectName website" into the search bar
- Press "Enter"
- Locate the official MyProjectName website link in the search results
- Click on the link to access the website
- Wait for the page to load
------
EDIT:
Rate limited, so to reply: I think most people understand there is a difference between launching a website and viewing a website.
If the AI wanted to know more about my role - whether I am a programmer, a designer, or someone that would use a high level Wix/Squarespace type tool - it should ask me.
i can imagine a tool where you take a picture of a cluttered desk or closet, and it produces a list of all the objects and then comes up with a plausible organization plan.
that's a little more complicated than these tools, but it seems within reach given publicly available technology. image segmentation models are really good now, the list of objects would be pretty reliable at least.
This is very cool.
Needs a bit of UI love for mobile. If you break down tasks 3 levels deep in becomes unusable.
Abstract it more.
This is essentially a thin wrapper around an LLM. Hardcoded prompt templates. The value isnt in the template itself, but more-so the curation of the template. So curate better.
Instead of hardcoding the prompt template, allow people to create/share/vote on arbitrary templates. A prompt library of sorts.
AI backend.
This is neat. I wish I could self host it, I wouldn't use it otherwise.
This should make it easier for people to adapt when their job adopts Manna™.
whats the product here exactly? 8 llm prompts? at least, according to the about page, they're using "Ethical" ai models. lol
The way it breaks down tasks quickly gets into a rut. If a certain item or context is not available there is no way to suggest that it pop up a level and say how to synthesize it or get to an alternative plan.
Once again, we see that AI stands for automated irresponsibility, not artificial intelligence.
one of the greatest ai idea on 2025, although the product has its own issues
I tend to think that a better treatment for these kinds of issues is biological, rather than prescriptive. If one has issues with thinking in a productive way, a new mode of thinking (i.e., "step-by-step") can be only somewhat therapeutic. It fits in the same box. I think this applies to very many different kinds of brain issues.
Obviously, the foremost treatment today is various stimulants. But other, more healthful ways of increasing brain energy, such as nailing down blood sugar management, lowering inflammation, and reducing environmental irritants, are probably also helpful. These interventions need not even be expensive or dramatic. Using lower glycemic index carbohydrate sources (i.e., fructose vs starches), consuming Thiamine (Vitamin B1) to improve glucose metabolism in cells, alongside taking in adequate cholesterol for the production of stabilizing neurosteroids such as progesterone, is a more specific description.
Quotation from Mind and Tissue, by Ray Peat:
``` The brain, with its extremely high energy requirements, is usually the first to suffer from energy deprivation. At slight levels of deprivation, the brain will simply lose functional efficiency, but more serious or prolonged deprivation can produce lingering modification, or even structural damage which is relatively permanent (and may even have transgenerational effects).' Just as the skin (or muscle) has a lower energy requirement than the brain, the various parts of the brain have different requirements. The parts which are most resistant to damage are the "lowest" and "oldest" parts of the brain, the parts we have in common with frogs. These parts regulate physiological processes, such as breathing, and so it is biologically useful that they should be most resistant to damage. When a person is given an anesthetic, the first parts to stop functioning, or to go to sleep, seem to be just those parts that have the highest energy requirements, and which are least resistant to damage. The anesthetized person keeps breathing, for example, until very high doses of anesthetic are given, but other functions disappear one by one as the dose increases. The front part of the brain, which is most uniquely human (and "newest) but which doesn't have "specific" function, in the usual sense, is one of the most sensitive parts of the brain. It is a very large piece of tissue, and it seems to be involved in planning and choosing, in governing the other more specific functions (This part of the brain, as well as the cerebral cortex in general, gives us the ability to "disregard" stimuli, to use Lendon Smith's term.) The famous Russian neuro-psychologist, A.R. Luria, has described the behavior of dogs when this tissue is damaged or removed:
..destruction of the frontal lobes leads, not so much to a disturbance of memory as to a disturbance of the ability to inhibit orienting reflexes to distracting stimuli: ..such an animal cannot perform tasks involving delayed responses under ordinary conditions, but can do so provided that irrelevant, distracting stimuli are removed (if the animal is kept in total darkness, if tranquilizers are administered, and so on). The role of the prefrontal cortex in the synthesis of systems of stimuli and the creation of a plan of action is manifested not only in relation to currently acting stimuli, but also in the formation of active behavior directed towards the future? Various theories of what causes hyperactivity, e.g., low blood sugar, weak radiation from fluorescent lights and TV. 3 or food additives, 4 and the observation that drugs which stimulate the sympathetic or adrenergic nerves (ephedrine or caffeine, for example will relieve the symptoms, are all consistent with the idea that not enough energy is being supplied to permit this tissue to function properly. Low blood sugar will starve the nerves; food additives or any low-level poison can serve as a stressor of nerve tissue, leading to increased energy requirements;
many forms of very weak radiation' can lower the efficiency of metabolism, increasing the tissue's energy requirement, and brain tissue is the most sensitive to at least some kinds of radiation.
Intestinal irritation can cause disturbances of the nervous system, and should be considered as a possibility in "disorders of attention." Toxins produced by intestinal bacteria can affect the brain directly, but more often act by damaging the liver's ability to regulate blood glucose. The commonest cause of hypoglycemia is hypothyroidism, and a thyroid deficiency increases the tendency toward a high-adrenaline state, but more importantly, thyroid hormone is the basic regulator of efficient energy production. Memory and attention are impaired by even a slight thyroid deficiency. The Russian paradigm, with its emphasis on energy and inhibition, suggests that thyroid function should be carefully examined in cases of hyperactivity. Too often, western physicians think only about hyperthyroidism in hyperactivity. ```
The more recent book "Brain Energy" by Chris Palmer offers similar perspectives in terms of dysfunctional mitochondria as a fundamental causative factor in just about every mental illness.
It did not want to assist with cooking desoxyephedrine, but help with dumping a large garbage bag in a body of water without being seen was okay!
This could be overgeneralising a bit... but I see a lot of people with ADHD (on- and offline) who tend to make it an essential part of their identity. I realise it's a very impactful thing to have to deal with (I have ADHD too) but I feel like a lot of the time it's brought up for no real reason. E.g. you started daydreaming when reading a book? Forgot something to do when you walked through a doorway? Got angry? You lost track of what you were thinking about? Must be the ADHD. There are YouTube channels whose whole gimmick is that they're run by and for people with ADHD. And guess what kind of content you'll see there: "Why cooking with ADHD is hell", "How ADHD can make you lie", "Music for people with ADHD". What happened to "music for concentration"? HN is a place where I see this play out a lot.