Meeting notetaker Granola just rolled out a feature that could change how productivity apps handle AI automation. The startup's new "Recipes" lets users create reusable prompt shortcuts that work across meetings, competing directly with similar features from ChatGPT and browser tools like Opera Neon. The timing couldn't be better, as companies scramble to differentiate their AI tools beyond basic transcription.
Granola is making a play for the productivity crown with its new Recipes feature, which lets users create reusable AI prompts that can be triggered instantly during or after meetings. The feature launches as meeting notetakers face mounting pressure to offer more than basic transcription services.
The concept builds on what ChatGPT popularized with GPTs and what Poe refined with custom apps. Users can now type "/" followed by a recipe name to execute complex prompts without retyping them. It's a simple interface that masks sophisticated AI automation underneath.
"When we talked to users, we heard from them that they often copy their transcripts to ChatGPT or Claude, and ask questions to the chatbot," Granola co-founder Chris Pedregal told TechCrunch. "With this new feature, they can get the full context of Granola and execute bespoke prompts."
That user behavior reveals the broader challenge facing AI productivity tools. Despite millions in funding and flashy demos, many users still default to copying information into ChatGPT or Claude for analysis. Granola's betting that native automation will keep users inside their ecosystem.
The company's approach differs from competitors by organizing recipes around meeting phases. Users can create prompts for before, during, and after meetings, with context that spans single sessions or entire meeting histories. The startup also provides a recipe creation guide and lets users share successful prompts with colleagues.
This puts Granola in direct competition with established players like Fireflies, Fathom, and Circleback, which offer similar template-based insights. But most competitors focus on post-meeting analysis, while Granola's Recipes can trigger during live sessions.
