The Axios founders on how AI ruined your inbox, why the ’90s really were different and how to succeed through ‘Simplify’

Three years after Smart Brevity became a corporate communication mantra, the founders of Axios have released a new book titled Simplify: Do 50% More with 50% Less. The trio, Jim VandeHei, Mike Allen, and Roy Schwartz, claim that artificial intelligence (AI) has not reduced anyone's workload, but rather has added more decks, longer emails, and increased "work-like activity" without producing tangible progress.

The founders argue that AI has flooded offices with more content, making people feel busier but achieving less. Their solution is a framework they developed by testing it on themselves first.

AI has exacerbated an already existing issue, according to the founders. They observe that people are more verbose now than ever before, flooding inboxes with more pitches. This two-front problem arises from both internal and external communication. Allen likens this to a "false productivity trap" coined by former Slack CEO Stewart Butterfield.

The authors suggest that people are not being lazy but are simply struggling to distinguish between real work and work-like activity, often clouded by the use of AI. The book aims to combat this issue through a recurring audit, which the founders claim should be done more frequently than most companies currently practice.

Allen, known for his private nature, has put the book's principles into practice in his personal life, using the phrase "I'm booked" to communicate his limited availability. He encourages others to adopt this approach to avoid unnecessary obligations. The founders argue that the key to success lies in committing to what you take on and fully engaging in it.

They recommend a no-nonsense approach to invitations, stating that "no" can be a complete sentence. Schwartz, a veteran journalist who co-founded Axios in 2016, highlights his dyslexia as the source of his ability to distill complex information into simple, structured points. His personal story ties into the themes of the book, emphasizing the power of simplification in both work and life.