Personal Use Apps: The future of increased productivity with AI

Have you ever needed a mobile app for a specific task but found that using it requires a monthly subscription? That happened to me just last week when I wanted to try a Pomodoro timer for focused work. With the rapid advancements in AI, it no longer makes sense to pay a monthly fee for an app that can be built with AI in under an hour. That’s when I coined the term "Personal Use Applications" (PUA).

Creating Your Own Apps with AI

Using tools like ChatGPT or Claude, you can easily instruct the AI to create a simple app like a Pomodoro timer. But how do you use it on your phone as an actual app? The answer lies in creating a mobile-friendly version that behaves like a native app. These are known as Progressive Web Apps (PWAs), which are designed to be compatible with mobile screens and function seamlessly like traditional apps.

The Overload of Consumer SaaS Products

Today's landscape is flooded with SaaS products, making it challenging to keep costs in check, even for basic tools. Many essential utilities, such as a Pomodoro timer, come with recurring fees—for instance, INR 200 per month—that quickly accumulate. However, AI offers a way out of this cycle. By leveraging AI, we can shift away from narrowly-focused, subscription-based apps. Instead of paying for separate tools that each perform a single function, AI allows for more integrated and cost-effective solutions, eliminating the need for multiple subscriptions.

The One WebView App to Rule Them All

To use your AI-generated web app on a mobile device, you need a native app capable of loading it. I built a simple solution which I call PUA using Cursor.sh, featuring a single screen that lists all added PWAs and a button to open a popup for entering the title and URL of each PWA. This approach consolidates various web apps under one platform, making it easy to manage and access all your Personal Use Applications. The cherry on top, you can even export your added PWA as a mobile app to your home screen using the PUA.

Adding Existing Web Apps to PUA

Often, you’ll come across an existing web app that perfectly fits your needs and you’d like to use it as a mobile app. For example, I found https://pomofocus.io/  for the Pomodoro timer. Simply add the title and URL to your personal use app, and you're all set! This approach saves you the time and effort of building a tool with an LLM and deploying it, allowing you to instantly transform any web app into a mobile-friendly experience.

My comments

With the rapid advancements in AI, there’s never been a better time to be alive. We’re living in an age where everyone has the power to become a creator, effortlessly bringing ideas to life. The tools available today allow people to accomplish amazing things on the fly, turning concepts into reality in a matter of minutes. While some aspects may still require a bit of technical know-how, the barriers to entry have significantly lowered. Now, even those without a tech background can easily achieve about 80% of what used to require specialized skills.