Comparing AI Tools

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Below is a clear, structured overview of 10 major types of AI tools.

This taxonomy is useful for executives, builders, and end users alike.

     Purpose: Create new content from prompts.

     What they do

• Generate text, images, audio, video, and code
• Support brainstorming, drafting, and creative work

     Examples

• Text: ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini 
• Image: Midjourney, DALL·E
• Video: Runway, Pika
• Audio: ElevenLabs, Suno
   

     Best for: Content creation, ideation, design, prototyping

     Purpose: Find, synthesize, and explain information.

     What they do

• Search the web with citations
• Summarize academic or technical sources
• Compare viewpoints and extract insights
   

     Examples

• Perplexity
• Elicit
• Consensus
• Semantic Scholar (AI features)
   

     Best for: Research, due diligence, learning, strategy

     Purpose: Turn data into insights.

     What they do

• Analyze datasets
• Run statistical models
• Visualize trends and forecasts
• Support decision-making
   

     Examples

• ChatGPT (Code Interpreter)
• Tableau (AI-assisted)
• Power BI Copilot
• DataRobot
   

     Best for: Business intelligence, forecasting, analytics

     Purpose: Reduce manual work and orchestrate processes.

     What they do

• Automate repetitive tasks
• Trigger actions across systems
• Manage schedules and reminders
   

     Examples

• Zapier
• Make
• UiPath
• Microsoft Power Automate
   

     Best for: Operations, productivity, back-office workflows

     Purpose: Execute multi-step goals autonomously.

     What they do

• Plan tasks
• Use tools and APIs
• Make conditional decisions
• Iterate toward an objective
   

     Examples

• Auto-research agents
• Customer support agents
• Booking and planning agents
   

     Best for: Complex workflows, continuous monitoring, orchestration

     Purpose: Accelerate software development.

     What they do

• Generate and refactor code
• Debug and explain logic
• Assist with documentation
   

     Examples

• GitHub Copilot
• Cursor
• CodeWhisperer
• ChatGPT (coding modes)
   

     Best for: Software engineering, scripting, automation

     Purpose: Visual, audio, and brand creation.

     What they do

• Design graphics and layouts
• Generate music and voice
• Create marketing assets
   

     Examples

• Canva AI
• Adobe Firefly
• Midjourney
• Descript
   

     Best for: Marketing, branding, media production

     Purpose: Govern, control, and scale AI use.

     What they do

• Enforce guardrails
• Audit outputs
• Manage risk and compliance
• Integrate with enterprise systems
   

     Examples

• Microsoft Copilot for Enterprise
• IBM watsonx
• Palantir AIP
• GRC-focused AI platforms
   

     Best for: Regulated industries, large organizations

     Purpose: Teach and upskill users.

     What they do

• Tutor users
• Provide quizzes and feedback
• Adapt to learning pace
   

     Examples

• Khanmigo
• Duolingo Max
• ChatGPT Study Mode
   

     Best for: Training, education, professional development

     Purpose: Interact with customers at scale.

     What they do

• Handle inquiries
• Route tickets
• Personalize responses
   

     Examples

• Intercom AI
• Zendesk AI
• Drift
   

     Best for: Customer service, sales, support operations

In 2026, AI will replace busywork.

...But only if you know which tools to use in 2026. This puts everything in one place 🗃️

The above image provides a quick, at-a-glance guide covering:

AI chatbots

AI presentations

AI coding assistance

AI email assistance

AI image tools

AI spreadsheets

AI meeting notes

AI writing and generation

AI scheduling

AI video creation

AI graphic design 

AI data visualization

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Now, The RIGHT tools can genuinely 10x your output.

The problem is there are 10,000+ AI tools out there. Most people either:

- Stick with ChatGPT for everything (and wonder why results are meh)

- Download 50 tools and use none of them

- Pay for premium subscriptions they never touch.

🫴 So, (below) here's your 50+ tools organized by actual use case:

- Writing & Content

- Design & Images

- Video Creation

- Audio & Voice

- Chatbots & Automation

- Marketing & Analytics

- Presentations

- Research

Let me share which ones you can initially narrow yourself down to:

🫴 The above is a simple AI stack that covers the full cycle from:

research → build → launch → operate

These tools are must-know because they collectively enable research, automation, design, development, monetization, support, communication, and analytics—the full stack required to turn ideas into scalable, AI-driven outcomes. 

• Research & insight: Perplexity Deep Research

• Automation / agentic workflows: n8n, LangChain

• Design & prototypes: Figma / Recraft / Uizard (Miro Labs)

• Build & ship (apps, tools, internal products): Cursor, Lovable, Supabase, Vercel

• Payments (if it’s customer-facing): Stripe

• Support & CX: Fin

• Communication polish (sales/calls/exec updates): GetFluently. app

• Documentation & knowledge: Claude

• Analytics & product signals: PostHog

👉 The workflow is:

1. Get clarity fast (research + synthesis)

2. Ship a small version quickly (prototype → production)

3. Instrument everything (analytics)

4. Learn from users/stakeholders weekly

5. Automate the repeatable parts (ops + support + docs)

🤔 So -

If you're still struggling to choose the right AI for each task?  Use this next guide to pick the right AI tool in seconds.

1. ChatGPT:

↳ If your focus is content, whether it’s writing, editing, or summarizing, this model handles it all with ease, including casual back-and-forth replies.

2. Perplexity:

↳ Useful when you need sourced answers, quick comparisons, detailed research, or market-level overviews, all in one place.

3. Grok:

↳ Best for tracking online trends, catching sarcasm and meme context, and reading live social chatter to see what’s trending now.

4. Gemini

↳ Inside your Google workflow, summarize docs, repair Sheet formulas, sort and label emails, and turnkey points into clear, actionable tasks.

🤖 AI works when you pick the right tool at the right time...

As you know, you really don’t need 100 tools. 

You just need the right ones for each stage of your research workflow.

Below, I'm providing another handy cheat sheet - AI Tools For Academics.

These tools are “must-know” because they represent the new baseline skill set for:

• Building AI-powered products
• Running modern businesses
• Scaling ideas quickly
• Reducing dependency on large teams
• Competing in an AI-accelerated economy

1. Creating Visuals

Canva –for professional academic graphics

Flourish –for interactive data visuals

Julius AI – for data-driven charts and summaries

2. Summarizing Research

SciSpace – read and summarize PDFs with explanations

Unriddle –extract insights from papers

Avidnote – summarize and organize research notes

3. Creating Presentations

Gamma –auto-design academic slides

auxi – PowerPoint AI for editing and structure

Plus – turn data into presentation visuals

4. Literature Gap Analysis

AnswerThis (YC F25) – explore unexplored ideas

SciSpace – map existing research

Connected Papers – visualize topic networks

5. Research Planning

Aveksana – build structured research plans

Scite – evaluate paper credibility

ChatGPT – refine concepts and outlines

6. Academic Search

Scite – analyze citation context

SciSpace – find and organize PDFs.

If you’re just starting, pick one tool from each category—and learn it deeply.

🤺 Again... Mastery Matters.  Here's your handy Cheat Sheet!...