Practical AI Tools β User Guide
Why get to know AI tools?
AI tools are now accessible to everyone. They can save you time, help with creativity, and solve problems that once required experts.
Here are the most popular tools and how to use them:
π¬ Smart chatbots
ChatGPT (OpenAI)
π chat.openai.com
The tool that started the revolution in November 2022. As of 2026 ChatGPT is powered by GPT-5 and GPT-5.2 (including built-in "thinking" mode), handles natural conversation, answers complex questions, and performs a huge range of tasks.
What you can do:
- Writing: Emails, articles, stories, scripts, social posts
- Learning: Explanations on any topic, from math to philosophy
- Coding: Write code, debug, explain existing code
- Translation: Translate between dozens of languages with context
- Analysis: Summarize documents, analyze data, extract insights
- Creativity: Ideas, brainstorming, problem-solving
π° Pricing:
- Free: Limited access to GPT-5.2
- Go / Plus / Pro: Extended access to GPT-5.2, thinking models and advanced tasks
- Business (~$30/user/month): Unlimited GPT-5.2 messages, integrations (Slack, Google Drive, GitHub) and security for organizations
- Enterprise: Custom pricing, full security and dedicated support
- Be specific: "Write a professional 3-paragraph email to a supplier who is late, firm but respectful tone"
- Give context: "I'm a 5th grade teacher, explain X at an appropriate level"
- Ask for options: "Give me 5 possible headlines"
- Iterate: "Shorter", "Less formal", "Add an example"
Claude (Anthropic)
π claude.ai
Claude is developed by Anthropic, founded by ex-OpenAI staff. It focuses on safety and reliability, and excels at long-document analysis, quality writing, and complex reasoning. As of 2026 the flagship is Claude Opus 4.5 (November 2025) β 200K context, extended thinking, and strong at code, agents, and automation.
Unique strengths:
- Huge context: Up to 200,000 tokens β a whole book or hundreds of pages
- Document analysis: Upload PDFs, code files, and docs for analysis
- Accuracy: Fewer "hallucinations" β tends to say when it doesn't know
- Writing: Natural, flowing style, great for long-form content
- Code: Strong programming with detailed explanations
π° Pricing:
- Free: Access to Haiku or Sonnet with usage limits
- Claude Pro: Preferred access to Claude Opus 4.5, more messages and quotas
- Team / Business: Org plans with higher quotas and Opus 4.5
Google Gemini
π gemini.google.com
Gemini is Google's chatbot and platform. Its big advantage is integration with Google products (Gmail, Docs, Drive) and access to up-to-date information from the web. As of 2026 Google offers Google AI Pro and Google AI Ultra (~$250/month) with advanced models, Veo 3 for video, enhanced NotebookLM, and more.
Unique strengths:
- Live info: Real-time Google Search results
- Google integration: Works with Gmail, Docs, Drive, Maps
- Multimodal: Understands images, text, and code
- Free tier: Strong free version
- Add-ons: Connect to external services
π° Pricing:
- Free: Generous Gemini access
- Google AI Pro: Advanced models, NotebookLM, integrations
- Google AI Ultra (~$250/month): Full Pro Deep Think, Veo 3, 25K AI credits, 30TB storage, YouTube Premium, and more
Notebook LM (Google)
A Google tool that builds a personal AI assistant from the documents, PDFs, and sources you upload. Great for research, exam prep, summarizing papers, and asking questions about your material.
Strengths:
- Your sources: Upload files and build one "notebook"
- Q&A: Ask questions over all material in the notebook
- Summaries and content: Create summaries, study guides, and more
- Audio: Turn the notebook into a "podcast" to listen to
Google Gems
π gemini.google.com (Gems inside Gemini)
Gems are custom AI assistants inside Gemini. Google and developers create Gems for specific topics β writing, code, translation, nutrition, interview prep, and more. You can also create your own Gem from a custom prompt.
Examples:
- Ready-made Gems: Writing helper, coder, math tutor, translator, and more
- Custom Gem: Set behavior and context and work with one fixed personal assistant
Microsoft Copilot
Microsoft's assistant is built into Windows, Office, and Edge, and in paid plans uses advanced models too. Free chat and image creation with web search (Bing).
Unique strengths:
- Free: Smart assistant with search and Office integration
- Office: In Word, Excel, PowerPoint
- Image creation: DALL-E 3 built in for free
- Search: Connected to Bing for current results
π¨ Image generation
DALL-E 3 (OpenAI)
π chat.openai.com (in ChatGPT Plus) | Copilot (free)
OpenAI's most advanced image model. DALL-E 3 understands complex prompts, creates images with correct text, and produces great results from simple descriptions.
Strengths:
- Understands detailed, complex descriptions
- Text in images: signs and readable titles
- Integrated with ChatGPT for prompt refinement
- Styles: photo, painting, 3D, illustration, and more
π° Pricing:
- Free: Via Microsoft Copilot (limited images/day)
- ChatGPT Plus/Pro: DALL-E 3 in chat
Midjourney
π midjourney.com
Beloved by designers and artists. Midjourney produces high-quality artistic images with a unique aesthetic. Works via Discord.
π° Pricing:
- Basic ($10/mo): ~200 images
- Standard ($30/mo): ~900 images + fast mode
- Pro ($60/mo): Unlimited
Leonardo.AI
π leonardo.ai
Powerful platform with a generous free tier. Great for game assets, fantasy art, and consistent character images.
Canva AI
π canva.com
Canva now includes built-in AI: image generation, one-click background removal, image expand, and automatic presentation design.
Adobe Firefly
π firefly.adobe.com
Adobe's image tool. Trained only on licensed content, so outputs are safe for commercial use.
βοΈ Writing and editing
Grammarly
π grammarly.com
Leading tool for English writing. Checks grammar, spelling, punctuation, style, and clarity β suggests fixes in real time. With AI it can rewrite and improve tone.
π° Pricing:
- Free: Basic checks
- Premium ($12/mo): Full features + AI
Notion AI
π notion.so
Notion has built-in AI to write, summarize, translate, and answer questions from your docs.
Hemingway Editor
π hemingwayapp.com
Improves clarity: flags overly complex sentences, passive voice, and excess adjectives.
QuillBot
π quillbot.com
Paraphrasing tool. Rewrite in different styles, avoid plagiarism, vary language.
π₯ Video and audio
ElevenLabs
π elevenlabs.io
Leading text-to-speech. Voices sound very human, with emotion and intonation. Clone existing voices or create new ones. Supports 30+ languages including Hebrew.
Runway
π runwayml.com
AI video editing: Gen-2 text-to-video, green screen removal, inpainting, slow motion, and more. Used in Hollywood productions.
Descript
π descript.com
Edit audio and video by editing the transcript. Delete a word in the text β itβs removed from the recording. Great for podcasts and YouTube.
Suno
π suno.com
Create music with AI. Describe a song or add lyrics β get a full track with vocals and production. Free tier: 50 creations per day.
HeyGen
π heygen.com
Create videos with a talking AI avatar. Pick a character, write script β the avatar speaks naturally. Great for training and marketing.
β‘ Productivity
Perplexity AI
π perplexity.ai
Smart search that gives summarized answers with sources instead of a list of links. Like asking an expert who read the whole internet. Free tier is generous; Pro adds GPT-5.2, Claude, and more.
Otter.ai
π otter.ai
Auto-transcribes meetings (Zoom/Teams/Meet), live transcript, speaker ID, and automatic summary with action items.
Gamma
π gamma.app
Create professional presentations with AI. Enter a topic or upload a doc β Gamma generates a designed deck with content and images.
Zapier + AI
π zapier.com
Automate tasks between apps (Gmail, Slack, Notion, Sheets, and thousands more) and add AI to the workflow.
n8n
π n8n.io
Open-source workflow automation platform. Connects apps, APIs, and AI tools β similar to Zapier, but you can self-host or use n8n Cloud.
Highlights:
- Open source: Full control, run on your own infrastructure
- Hundreds of integrations: Gmail, Slack, Notion, OpenAI, Claude, Google Sheets, and more
- AI nodes: Connect ChatGPT, Claude, and other models
- Visual editor: Build workflows without code, with optional custom JavaScript
π° Pricing:
- Free (self-hosted): No license cost when you run it yourself
- n8n Cloud: Paid plans for managed hosting
Superhuman
π superhuman.com
Email client with AI: fast replies, thread summaries, smart reminders.
Mem.ai
π mem.ai
Notes app with AI that organizes your knowledge. Ask questions about your notes and get answers from what you wrote.
Reclaim.ai
π reclaim.ai
Smart calendar. AI schedules meetings, focus time, breaks, and tasks β and adjusts when things change.
π Tips for better use
1. Be specific
Instead of "help me write" β "Write a short 3-paragraph email to a supplier who is late with delivery, professional but firm tone."
2. Give context
Tell the AI who you are, who the text is for, and what the goal is.
3. Ask for examples
If unsure, ask for several options and pick the best.
4. Refine
If the answer isnβt perfect, say "shorter", "less formal", "add an example".
- AI can make mistakes β always verify important information
- Donβt share sensitive or personal data
- Copyright on AI-generated content is still legally unclear
Summary β where to start? π
- Chat and general help: ChatGPT or Claude
- Images: Canva (beginners) or Midjourney (advanced)
- Research and search: Perplexity
- English writing: Grammarly
- Meeting notes: Otter.ai
π Test yourself
Answer 10 questions to check your understanding of AI tools.