In the wake of yet another task being added to my to-do list, I found myself searching for a productivity tool that could boost efficiency and adapt to my ever-changing schedule. I tried out Motion, an artificial intelligence calendar assistant that can plan your day, schedule meetings and create and refine to-do lists for you.

I had seen Motion in recent targeted social ads (hey, they worked!), so I was aware of its capabilities. I downloaded the software for a seven-day free trial ($12–19/month thereafter) and synced it to my calendars in hopes of easing some of my time management challenges.

Launched in 2019 by co-founders Ethan Yu, Harri Qi and Omid Rooholfada, Motion was designed to declutter and tame the chaos of a messy calendar. Not to be confused with HubSpot's Motion AI, this daily planner offers task, calendar project management and -- what piqued my interest -- AI auto-scheduling.

What makes Motion stand out 

Motion AI may not seem like the most impressive AI tool at first glance, but when compared to other productivity platforms like its main competitor Sunsama (a planning and mindfulness tool), the digital task manager Todoist and the visually-focused task management tool Trello, I noticed some key differences -- and, in some cases, innovative advantages.

Since Motion originally launched as a productivity-slash-project management tool, its automatic task scheduling and real-time adjustments set it apart from competitors. 

Based on knowledge of your past behaviors, when your day adjusts, Motion AI does as well. It reprioritizes tasks when things unexpectedly change, theoretically eliminating the need to manually adjust your calendar -- and easing any guilt or shame you might get when plans don't go as expected.

Does it actually work?

During the seven days I used Motion, I noticed it subtly rearranging tasks and meetings to better fit my assumed needs. But can AI really learn your behavior in just a week?

I was naive in hoping it could master my task list in such a short period of time. However, what I did see left me hopeful about its potential -- it just needed a longer learning period. 

But this also means that auto-scheduled and rearranged tasks aren't always in the order that you'd like them, which creates an obstacle. No software is perfect, but Motion aims to solve this issue with its "Start Task Now" feature, which instantly rearranges your tasks dashboard accordingly. 

If this feature doesn't excite you, there's an option to disable auto-scheduling and keep tasks fixed.

Screenshot by CNET Motion AI's other callouts

I am notorious for overloading my system with open tabs and tools in a flurry to complete tasks -- hence why I sought out a productivity tool in the first place. So I appreciate how Motion does a great job of streamlining processes by consolidating the aspects of many other tools into one platform. 

Visually, Motion's UX design is great. Little annoyances include the inability to toggle between a monthly calendar and a Kanban week view, but otherwise its layout feels very intentional. 

As for its task management, Motion has a visual side panel of upcoming tasks and the option to set working hours and deadlines. Motion can be helpful in that it allows for projects to be broken down into detail-specific chunks that can ease prioritization and visualize your step process. I already use a separate AI-powered tool to distill tasks into digestible chunks, so I wasn't as reliant on this part of the software. 

Motion is well-equipped for integrations. Beyond its consolidating capabilities, it can connect with other digital tools -- like Google Meet, Teams, Zoom and Zapier -- which allow it to feel like a robust, all-in-one tool for connecting and communicating with others. Plus, it includes a meeting link feature, eliminating the need for third-party platforms like Calendly. I presume the more integrations you include, the easier and possibly faster it is for Motion's AI-auto scheduler to learn your behaviors.

However, it doesn't have an intuitive educational system to quickly understand its capabilities.

Should you download Motion?

What initially caught my eye about Motion was the "Be 137% more productive" statement, which is plastered across its website. 

Was I 137% more productive by the end of my seven-day trial? Absolutely not. I may be better suited for its email language, which says "you can get 25% more done each day." Nonetheless, while these two statements may have the ability to co-exist, they didn't for me. 

I can appreciate Motion AI for its productivity-boosting features and clean modern interface, but there was a steep learning curve. I spent more time learning how to navigate the interface than I did using its functions. And I had to watch a YouTube tutorial to better understand its UX landscape, which took up even more time. 

Additionally, when you're restricted to a seven-day trial, time feels precious. Motion AI is pricey in comparison to other AI-powered productivity tools that offer free versions instead of just a trial. Plus, seven days isn't enough time to fully explore its capabilities. Looking at other user testimonials, it seems the company used to offer 14-day free trials; I'd advocate for an extension solely for this reason. 

Motion is absolutely an intelligent tool, though in my opinion, not the most accessible or easy to understand. My relationship with Motion is one of admiration -- but complete lack of compatibility. Like any relationship, sometimes it's best to recognize what isn't working and walk away before it costs you.

If you're like me and forget to cancel your free trial, you'll be hit with a $228/year membership fee.