A new artificial intelligence-powered application, named Pool, is set to address the common digital dilemma of forgotten screenshots. The app, which has recently launched, is designed to automatically organise and categorise the myriad of images users capture from their phones, ranging from recipes and fashion inspiration to product recommendations and travel ideas. By granting Pool access to a phone's photo library, the app sorts these visual snippets into personalised 'pools' based on the content identified within them.
Pool distinguishes itself in the burgeoning field of AI-driven bookmarking tools by specifically focusing on screenshots. Once imported, its AI capabilities enable it to trace the original link associated with a given screenshot. For instance, if a user has screenshotted a product they were considering purchasing, Pool can link directly to the retailer's website. Similarly, a recipe captured from social media could be linked back to its original source, providing ingredients and instructions without the need for manual searching.
The concept for Pool originated from co-founders Maxime Junique and Piet Terheyden, who both encountered the problem of screenshotting items they wished to remember but then struggled to locate later. This shared experience, they found, was common among friends and acquaintances, highlighting a widespread need for a solution to digital clutter. The app was initially developed around three years ago as the first product from their studio, Spinoff Studio, but was put on hold to focus on B2B software, including the CRM software Waitless, which was acquired last year.
The resurgence of Pool was largely driven by the maturation of AI technology. Junique explained that the advancements in AI made the app's core idea of processing and making sense of personal, unstructured datasets finally feasible. He noted that while many AI applications focus on data like emails or chat logs, screenshots represent a largely untapped and 'deeply emotional data set' that people own.
Pool's functionality extends beyond simple organisation; it also treats screenshots as 'memories,' understanding their temporal relevance. For example, a screenshot of an event ticket barcode might automatically disappear after the event date, while a flyer for an upcoming event could prompt the app's AI to help users find and purchase tickets. Users can interact with Pool via search functions or by asking its built-in AI assistant for help, further streamlining the process of rediscovery.
The founders are already planning a second, separate application that will build on this concept, acting as a personal assistant leveraging the same agentic AI principles. This innovation could mark a significant shift in how individuals manage their digital lives, moving from passive collection to active organisation and engagement with saved content.