A desk with a full toolbox labeled AI tools. Shadowy cinematic shot with smoke. Professional lighting. Wide-angle lens. 4K resolution. Depth of field effect.
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Top AI Tools I Actually Use and Recommend

I’ve seen many LinkedIn posts listing cool AI tools, but they often get facts wrong or recommend subpar options. So, I’m sharing my personal list of AI platforms I use and truly recommend.

ChatGPT: This is my go-to for a wide range of tasks. It’s versatile and well-rounded, excelling in brainstorming, analysis, and problem-solving. I find it particularly useful for generating initial ideas or breaking down complex problems.

Claude (especially Claude 3.5 Sonnet): When it comes to writing and coding tasks, Claude is my preferred choice. Its ability to understand context and generate coherent, well-structured content is impressive. I often use it in the API for my content dashboard. Ideogram: This tool stands out for its prompt adherence and ability to generate realistic text in images. It’s become an essential part of my workflow for creating visuals with text elements.

Groq: For those looking for speed and cost-effectiveness, Groq offers excellent versions of models like Llama 3.1. It’s a great alternative when you need quick results without compromising on quality.

Perplexity: My go-to for research tasks. Its ability to aggregate and synthesize information from various sources saves me hours of manual searching.

Fal.ai: This is a powerful API platform that I use to access many tools, including open-source image tools and third-party APIs like Runway. It’s incredibly versatile and allows me to integrate multiple AI capabilities into my projects.

Krea.ai: When I need to upscale images, Krea.ai is my top choice. The quality of its upscaling is consistently impressive.

Runway/Kling/Minimax: Good options for high-quality video generation, though they are pretty slow.

Pika: I use Pika specifically for their pikaffects feature, which adds unique visual effects to videos and images.

Vidu: This is my go-to for quick, free, and surprisingly good quality image-to-video conversions. It’s perfect for creating short video content from static images.

11 Labs: For text-to-speech needs, 11 Labs produces some of the most natural-sounding AI voices I’ve encountered.

HeyGen: When I need to create AI avatars for presentations or videos, HeyGen is my first choice. The quality and customization options are impressive.

Poe: This platform offers a great free tier for using various large language models. It’s an excellent way to experiment with different AI models without breaking the bank.

Cline (formerly Claude Dev): As a coding assistant, Cline’s VS Code extension has become an integral part of my development process.

By focusing on these tools, I’ve been able to streamline my workflow and boost productivity across various projects. Each serves a specific purpose and excels in its domain. It’s worth noting that the AI landscape is constantly evolving. New tools and updates emerge frequently, so it’s crucial to stay informed and adapt your toolkit as needed.

I regularly test new platforms and update my recommendations based on their performance and usefulness. If you’re interested in diving deeper into specific AI tools and their applications, check out my article on managing ChatGPT’s memory for tips on getting the most out of your AI interactions.

Remember, the key is to find the right tools that fit your specific needs and workflow. Don’t be afraid to experiment and find what works best for you.