I’ll be honest — I’ve had a bit of a love-hate relationship with Notion over the years. On one hand, it’s beautifully flexible, endlessly customisable, and kind of addictive once you get the hang of it. On the other, it can be overwhelming, fiddly, and let’s face it — a bit slow at times. But when Notion dropped its AI features, I knew I had to dive in properly.
So, is Notion AI just another bolt-on gimmick? Or has it actually changed the way I work? After a few months of daily use, I’ve got some thoughts.
What is Notion AI, exactly?
Notion AI isn’t a separate app — it’s baked right into your existing workspace. You can use it to generate text, summarise notes, fix grammar, translate, brainstorm ideas, and even autofill entire pages with prompts. It feels a bit like having ChatGPT living inside your notes — but with context.
What makes it different is how seamlessly it integrates into your workflow. You’re not jumping between tools. You just click into a block, hit the spacebar, and Notion AI is ready to go.
How I’ve actually used it
Here’s where it gets interesting. I didn’t think I’d lean on it much — I like writing my own notes and I’m particular about wording — but it crept into my daily routine faster than I expected.
1. Summarising meetings
I’ve got pages and pages of messy meeting notes. Tapping “Summarise” turns them into readable action points in seconds. It’s not perfect, but it gets the job 80% done — enough to polish and send off without stress.
2. Writing first drafts
For blog outlines, project descriptions, even Slack updates, Notion AI is great for beating the blank page. I’ll usually tweak the tone or shuffle bits around, but it gives me a solid starting point.
3. Brainstorming
Stuck on a headline? Need 10 name ideas for a feature? Notion AI is like a less annoying brainstorming partner. I wouldn’t rely on it for creative gold, but it’s brilliant for volume and variety.
4. Tidying up writing
The “Improve Writing” feature is subtle — it doesn’t rewrite your voice, just tightens things up. I’ve used it more than I care to admit when I’m half-asleep and need to sound like a real person.
What it gets right
- Context-aware: Because it lives in your workspace, it can pull from nearby notes and content. That means better suggestions than starting from scratch in ChatGPT.
- Fast (mostly): On a decent internet connection, it’s quick enough not to interrupt your flow.
- Well-integrated: You don’t have to change the way you work — just enhance it. That’s a big deal.
Where it still falls short
- Occasional blandness: Like most AI, it can sound generic. You’ll still want to rewrite anything important.
- Not always accurate: Don’t expect it to pull data or facts reliably — it’s more for text than truth.
- You’ll need to guide it: The magic happens when you give it context. Left alone, it’ll guess — and not always well.
Pricing and access
Notion AI isn’t free. It’s included in the Business plan at £16.50/month. For heavy users, it’s probably worth it. If you’re only in Notion occasionally, you might struggle to justify the extra cost and the AI Trial included in the Free or Plus plan might be enough.
Final verdict: Is it a game-changer?
It’s not magic. It won’t do your thinking for you. But used right, Notion AI is a powerful productivity boost — especially if you’re already living in Notion. It saves time, gets you unstuck, and smooths out rough edges in your writing.
For me, it hasn’t replaced my own brain (yet), but it has become a quiet sidekick. If you’re a Notion user who deals with a lot of text — meetings, docs, planning, writing — I’d say give it a proper go.
It might just surprise you.
