I realized something changed last week when I caught myself using Arc, Claude, and Raycast simultaneously—each fighting for my keyboard shortcuts. The war for screen real estate isn't just about pixels anymore.
I've been a Mac user since 2010 and have seen plenty of apps come and go (remember Quicksilver?). But this feels different.
The Browser Company changed things with Arc. I initially ignored it, appearing to be just another browser wrapper. But after three weeks, I couldn't go back to Chrome. It wasn't just the sidebar; it was how it fundamentally changed my workflow.
Then came the AI integrations.
ChatGPT, Claude, and Perplexity don't just want to be websites. They want to be the default interface, one shortcut away. I realized I hadn't opened my Applications folder in weeks because everything I needed was a ⌘+K away.
Raycast is significant here. Their approach to the launch bar made me rethink app launchers entirely. It's not just about opening apps anymore; it's about commands and actions. I wrote half of this post using their AI commands.
These aren't just apps anymore. They're becoming invisible threads in the operating system. Yesterday:
- Drafted three emails using Claude's API
- Debugged Python code through Raycast
- Researched a competitor using Perplexity's inline search
- Managed 50+ browser tabs in Arc
None of this felt like "using AI." It just felt like computing.
The battle isn't for attention anymore; it's for muscle memory. Every company wants to be the thing you instinctively reach for when you need to think or create. Arc wants to be your window, GPT wants to be your second brain, and Raycast wants to be the interface.
I have mixed feelings. My productivity is up, but I'm increasingly aware of my dependence on these tools. When my internet went down the other day, I felt legitimately stuck.
The elephant in the room is what Apple and Microsoft are doing. Apple has been quiet, and Microsoft is pushing Copilot. The question is whether they will play nice with these third-party tools or if we are heading for a platform war.
For now, I'm just watching it happen. And maybe overusing my keyboard shortcuts.