Tech · 4 min read
I’ll be honest — I was sceptical about the whole AI thing at first. It felt like a lot of hype with not much substance. But after actually sitting down and trying a handful of tools over the past few months, I can confidently say some of them have properly changed how I work, create and organise my life. Not in a “robots are taking over” way — more in a “how did I ever manage without this” way.
Here are the seven I keep coming back to.
1. ChatGPT — My Thinking Partner Whether I’m brainstorming post ideas, drafting emails I don’t want to write, or just trying to organise my thoughts, ChatGPT is my first stop. I use it almost every single day. It’s like having a really patient friend who’s good at everything and never gets tired of your questions.
2. Claude — For Anything That Needs Nuance If ChatGPT is my everyday assistant, Claude is the one I go to when I need something more thoughtful. Writing that needs a specific tone, research that needs summarising properly, or anything where I want a considered, detailed response. It also feels a lot more conversational, which I love.
3. Canva AI — Design Without the Stress I’ve been using Canva for years, but the AI features they’ve added recently are genuinely impressive. The Magic Write tool helps me generate copy for graphics in seconds, and the background remover saves me so much time when I’m creating content for the blog and socials.
4. Notion AI — My Second Brain I use Notion to run basically my entire life — content calendars, to-do lists, ideas, notes from courses. The built-in AI can summarise long notes, generate action points from my rambling thoughts, and even draft content outlines. It’s quietly one of the most useful tools I own.
5. Grammarly — Because Typos Are Not the Vibe It sits in my browser and quietly fixes my writing as I go. It catches things I’d never notice myself — not just spelling, but tone, clarity and flow. I never publish anything without running it through Grammarly first. Non-negotiable.
6. Otter.ai — For Anyone Who Hates Taking Notes I started using Otter to transcribe voice notes I record when inspiration hits on the go. It also records and transcribes meetings or calls automatically. If you’re the kind of person who has great ideas in the shower or on a walk, this one’s for you.
7. Lensa / Adobe Firefly — AI Imagery Done Right When I need a quick image for a post or social graphic and I don’t have time for a full shoot, these two are my go-to. Adobe Firefly in particular is brilliant for generating on-brand imagery. The results have got so good it’s almost scary.
Look, not every AI tool lives up to the hype — but these seven have genuinely earned their place in my routine. I’d start with Claude or ChatGPT if you’re new to all of this, then build from there. Once you find your rhythm with them, you’ll wonder how you ever managed your workload without them.
Have you tried any of these? Let me know in the comments which one you’re most curious about — I might do a deeper dive on each one.
— OliNaomi