Axios co-founders Mike Allen, Jim VandeHei and Roy Schwartz have written a new book, "Simplify," urging readers to use artificial intelligence to cut out distractions and improve their personal and professional lives. Building on Axios's "Smart Brevity" formula, the trio spent two and a half years adapting the approach they credit for the news outlet's success into a broader guide for individuals, framing AI as a tool to help people focus on what matters most to them.

The book, published on Tuesday, mixes personal anecdotes with practical advice, describing a "confront, delete, amplify" method for tackling distractions. Examples include VandeHei's strict daily gym hour, Allen's efforts to unlearn lengthy writing habits, Roy Schwartz turning his dyslexia into a strength for simplifying complex ideas, and broadcaster Rachel Maddow's rationale for her all-black on-air wardrobe. The authors also warn against "slop," both human- and AI-generated, and recommend using AI agents to question whether tasks are genuinely necessary, while stressing that individuals, not the technology, remain responsible for their own choices.