Trello’s latest AI update lets you manage Slack, email and more

The explosion of workplace productivity apps has created a new challenge for users who must constantly switch between email, messaging, and project management tools. Trello, the Atlassian-owned project management platform known for its Kanban board interface, is launching new features to address this fragmentation by becoming a central hub for tasks across different platforms.

The core innovation: Trello is introducing an Inbox column on every board that serves as a universal collection point for tasks and information from various sources.

• Users can forward emails, save Slack messages, or use Siri voice commands to add items to their Trello Inbox
• The system automatically summarizes content and identifies relevant due dates and sub-tasks
• Integration with Microsoft Teams is planned for future release

Key functionality: The update maintains Trello’s signature Kanban board structure while expanding its capability as a task aggregator.

• The platform focuses on quick capture and organization rather than trying to replace existing tools
• New items can be easily sorted and organized into appropriate board categories later
• The system preserves links to original content sources while providing summaries within Trello

Time management features: A new calendar view called Trello Planner helps users schedule their aggregated tasks.

• Tasks added to Trello automatically sync back to users’ calendars as events
• The feature supports time blocking, a popular productivity technique
• Users can manage both their tasks and schedule in one interface

Strategic positioning: Trello’s head of product, Guarav Kataria, emphasizes a return to simplicity and individual user focus.

• The platform aims to solve personal productivity challenges rather than enterprise-wide project management
• Integration with Atlassian’s Jira software is included but not central to the new features
• The approach differs from competitors who try to replace existing tools entirely

Future outlook: The updated features signal a strategic pivot that could reshape how users manage their digital workload.

The beta release of these features, with full rollout planned for April 2025, represents Trello’s bet that the future of productivity lies not in creating yet another standalone tool, but in building bridges between existing platforms. This approach could prove particularly valuable as workers continue to grapple with digital overwhelm and the need for better task management across multiple platforms.