Todoist Introduces ‘Ramble’: Transforming Task Management with AI-Powered Voice Input
In a significant advancement for productivity tools, Doist, the creator of the widely-used to-do list application Todoist, has unveiled Ramble, an innovative AI-driven feature that allows users to add tasks to their lists through natural language voice commands. This development marks a pivotal shift in task management, emphasizing convenience and efficiency.
Seamless Voice Integration
Ramble is designed to interpret unstructured, conversational speech and convert it into organized tasks. Users can articulate their to-dos naturally, and the app intelligently extracts pertinent details such as deadlines, priorities, durations, and assignees. This functionality addresses the common challenge of capturing tasks while on the move, eliminating the need for manual typing. By simply tapping the Ramble icon and speaking, users can see their tasks materialize in real-time, with the system accommodating edits and modifications as they are spoken.
Advanced AI Technology
At the core of Ramble is a sophisticated large language model (LLM) integrated into the Todoist Assist suite. This system leverages Google’s Gemini 2.5 Flash Live model via Vertex AI to achieve real-time speech comprehension. As users speak, the audio is streamed to the backend, where the model transcribes the speech and identifies key elements to generate tasks. Importantly, Doist ensures user privacy by not storing audio data or using it for AI training, and the app boasts SOC2 Type II certification, underscoring its commitment to security.
Comparative Landscape
The introduction of Ramble aligns with a broader trend of integrating AI-powered voice functionalities into productivity tools. For instance, Amazon’s Bee wearable device utilizes AI to transcribe speech into notes and suggested tasks, while devices from companies like Plaud can capture meeting notes and highlight key points. Additionally, the emergence of AI-enabled smart rings, such as Sandbar’s Stream ring and Pebble’s forthcoming Index 01 ring, allows users to quickly add tasks or notes via a simple press on the ring, which syncs with a companion mobile app.
Beta Testing and User Adoption
Prior to its official release, Ramble underwent extensive beta testing with approximately 150,000 active users from the Todoist Experimental group. Within the initial three weeks, around 76,000 testers completed nearly 290,000 Ramble sessions across desktop and mobile platforms. The feature entered public beta testing in November, during which task creation success rates improved from about 40% in October to approximately 62% by December. Notably, Doist observed a significant increase in upgrades among new users on the entry-level plan, with rates approximately five times higher following the use of Ramble.
Availability and Accessibility
As of today, Todoist Ramble is accessible to all users across iOS, Android, desktop, and web platforms, supporting 38 languages. Users on the Beginner plan can utilize the feature with a limited number of sessions per month, while those on Pro and Business paid plans enjoy unlimited sessions. For enhanced accessibility, the feature can be activated via a Home Screen or Lock Screen shortcut on iOS, and through app shortcuts, widgets, and quick settings tiles on Android.
Implications for Productivity
The launch of Ramble signifies a transformative moment in task management, offering users a more intuitive and efficient method to capture and organize their responsibilities. By harnessing advanced AI and natural language processing, Todoist is setting a new standard for productivity applications, catering to the evolving needs of users who seek seamless integration of technology into their daily workflows.
