What we automated with AI and AutoHotkey
Summary
Chuck Glines from the Automator walks through a packed week of AI-powered automation projects built with AutoHotkey. He demos a wide range of new and updated tools including an Icon Maker with batch generation, a custom taskbar replacement, a RemindMe script, Transcriber with auto-thumbnail generation, Segmenter for video clips, Effortless Video Reducer with Dropbox integration, and more. He also shares cool hardware finds like NFC nameplates and tiny sticker printers for networking events.
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Key Points
[00:00:00] - Weekly Automation Roundup and Tool Updates
• Chuck opens by launching his Prompt Assistant and reviewing recently modified files from the week.
• He covers a notebook bulk-delete script he wrote using a click-loop approach after AutomateMyTask had mouse-focus issues.
• A V1 URL decoder/transformer was recreated with AI assistance for a group that only has access to AutoHotkey V1.
• ActiveToggler was accidentally overwritten and had to be restored - it cycles through instances of a specific program.
• Major updates to AHK Script Maker (ASM) Pro were announced: over 50 Claude Code skills, agents, libraries, and a CLI debugger are now integrated, letting non-programmers leverage AI-assisted coding through Open Router with 400+ models.
• Segmenter and Transcriber tools received significant upgrades, including automated thumbnail generation with AI-suggested headlines, emotions, and rendering options - described as game-changing for YouTubers and anyone processing recorded meetings.
• Effortless Video Reducer now supports CPU/GPU selection and subtitle burn-in, and a new Icon Maker tool lets you create custom letter-based icons with full color and font control.
[00:08:55] - Icon Maker Batch Mode, Cloud Detect, and RemindMe Tool
• The Icon Maker's batch mode can generate thousands of icon permutations (up to 18,000+ files) from letter combinations, saved as PNG, ICO, or zipped archives.
• AI was used to convert Isaias's V1 key-list script to V2 for integration into the Icon Maker library.
• Cloud Detect was added to Effortless Video Reducer so it auto-generates a shareable Dropbox URL after processing a video.
• DarkBox, a dark-themed message box library, was released and is available online.
• The RemindMe tool was born during a HERO call - Chuck kicked off Claude to build it, forgot about it, then discovered it running in his system tray days later, fully functional with timed popup reminders.
• Chuck began building a custom AutoHotkey taskbar replacement with folder shortcuts, app launchers, a clock, and configurable width/monitor placement - eliminating the need for Explorer Patch.
[00:17:35] - Custom Taskbar, Screen-Hide Toggle, Clipboard Memory, and Hardware Gadgets
• A key lesson learned: when AI said it could not replicate Explorer Patch's complex approach, Chuck reframed the question to simply "create a taskbar that monitors running programs" - and it worked. Asking the right question matters.
• The webcam reminder tool has a "hide from screen capture" toggle using a Windows API attribute, making it invisible to OBS and Zoom while still visible to the user.
• Clipboard memory was added to the taskbar with hover previews, click-to-restore, and shift-click to pin entries so they are not overwritten. A future idea is using AI regex to detect and exclude passwords.
• The window snipping tool was updated with arrow drawing mode (Ctrl+A) and text overlay (Ctrl+T) with customizable colors.
• Zoom detection tooltip reminds users whether they are sharing their screen during calls.
• Chuck demoed NFC-powered digital nameplates and a tiny thermal sticker printer (both under $20) for use at Chamber of Commerce networking events.
• He proposed creating a personal web app with a QR code that drives to a Google Form for capturing contact info at events - free and easy for any small business.
Brief Summary
This episode showcases how AI (especially Claude) combined with AutoHotkey can rapidly produce practical desktop tools, from batch icon generators to custom taskbars to smart reminder systems. Chuck emphasizes that reframing your questions to AI often unlocks solutions, and that packaging advanced AI workflows into accessible tools helps non-programmers automate their daily work. Check out the Automator community for downloads and upcoming videos on these tools.
#AutoHotkeyAutomation #AITools #ClaudeCode #VideoTranscriber #ThumbnailGenerator #IconMaker #CustomTaskbar #ClipboardManager #ScreenCapture #NFCNameplate #QRCode #SmallBusinessTools #OBSRecording #ZoomDetection #NotebookLLM #AutoHotkeyV2 #WindowSnipping #VideoSegmenter #PromptAssistant