Artificial intelligence (AI) tools use machine learning technology to support a range of personal and professional tasks. They can save time, increase your efficiency, and make your work easier. Here’s an overview of the various tools in the AI world and examples of such tools for business owners.
What are AI tools?
An artificial intelligence tool is a software app or platform that uses artificial intelligence (AI) technologies and machine learning to perform a variety of tasks, from analyzing data to making predictions, automating processes, and providing insights that can be difficult to discern on your own.
AI tools are used in different fields for various purposes. An AI tool designed for businesses supports tasks like content creation, data entry, advanced analytics, workflow automation—all of which can help increase efficiency.
Benefits of using AI tools
AI tools can help you do more, faster, and improve the quality of your results. Here’s an overview of the benefits of such tools:
- Improved efficiency. AI-powered tools can save time. For example, AI writing tools can quickly create content, while chatbots can help provide high-quality customer support, letting you spend time on more creative tasks, like product development.
- Increased accuracy. AI tools can improve accuracy. AI copywriting tools can proofread content, fix spelling mistakes, and correct word usage errors. You can also use AI tools to support your data analysis process and minimize the chance of human error.
- Workflow automation. AI tools can help you automate basic tasks, including data entry and project management functions, like scheduling and task tracking.
- Diversified capabilities. AI tools can help your team expand its capabilities, letting you create high-quality written content, branded images, or even visually appealing videos without hiring specialists in each area.
Top AI tools for everyday use
- Clickup
- Stable Diffusion
- ChatGPT
- Nifty
- Jasper AI
- Copy.ai
- Blackbox
- Runway
- Looka
- Figstack
- DALL-E
- Google Gemini
- Textio
- Boost.ai
- Chatfuel AI
Different AI tools support different tasks. Here’s an overview of the best paid and free AI tools for content creation, project management, coding, research, and customer service.
ClickUp
ClickUp is an artificial intelligence project management tool with built-in collaborative features like real-time chat, whiteboards, and shared documents. Its customizable project views let project managers track workflows using a range of methodologies and visualization tools, including Gantt charts, Kanban boards, lists, and Agile Sprint formats.
It includes a free forever plan and three paid plans, and you can add the AI writing tool ClickUp AI to any paid plan for $5 per user, per month.
Type: Project management tool
Features
- Customizable project views
- Collaborative
- 24/7 customer support
- In-app video recording
- Built-in internal chat function
Pricing
- Free plan available
- Unlimited: $7 per user per month
- Business: $12 per user per month
- Enterprise: Contact for custom pricing
Stable Diffusion
Stable Diffusion is an AI-powered tool designed by Stability AI that creates visuals based on text prompts or other images. You can also include negative prompts (which tell the tool what to exclude) and edit existing images.
You can access a free standard version online or purchase access to the API platform and download the application to your device. Pricing is based on credits, where the credit cost of a particular task depends on the computing power required to complete the request.
Type: Image generation tool
Features
- Text-to-image and image-to-image content creation
- Existing image editing
- Mobile and desktop app
- Extensive prompt library
- Open-source technology
Pricing
- 25 free credits
- $10 per 1,000 credits
ChatGPT
ChatGPT is a generative AI chatbot that uses the GPT large language model (LLM) to support a contextual understanding of natural language inputs. Use ChatGPT to write blog posts, social media posts, video scripts, or even jingles. It can also conduct market research, summarize long-form articles, and brainstorm ideas for marketing content.
The free version of ChatGPT runs on the LLM GPT-3.5 and doesn’t have real-time internet access. Paid plans run on the updated LLM GPT-4 and include image generation, advanced data analytics, and web browsing functions available through Browse with Bing.
Type: Generative AI chatbot
Features
- Natural language processing (NLP) capabilities
- Content creation, proofreading, and editing
- Research capabilities
- Message history
Pricing
- Free plan available
- Plus: $20 per user, per month
- Team: $25 per user, per month
- Enterprise: Contact for custom pricing
Nifty
Nifty is an AI tool that provides an overview of project statuses and individual workloads, making it easier for project managers to identify bottlenecks and allocate tasks across team members. It also includes automated reporting functions and lets you configure task dependencies, automatically advancing projects when particular milestones are reached.
Type: Project management tool
Features
- Automated status reporting
- Google Docs integration
- Task management, including recurring tasks and dependencies
- Project overviews
- Project milestones
- Built-in chat
Pricing
- Free plan available
- Starter: $5 per user per month
- Pro: $10 per user, per month
- Business: $16 per user, per month
Jasper AI
Jasper AI can create AI-generated content using your unique brand voice. Instruct the AI tool to analyze existing content styles and supplement its findings with company information and your own voice and tone parameters.
Paid plans include advanced features like image generation, team collaboration tools, web browsing access, and instant campaigns, letting you generate content for an entire campaign with one click.
Type: AI writing tool
Features
- NLP capabilities
- Custom brand voices
- 50 content format templates
- Content creation, editing, and repurposing
- Plagiarism checker
- SEO tools
Pricing
- Creator: $39 per user, per month
- Pro: $59 per user, per month
- Business: Contact for custom pricing
Copy.ai
Copy.ai is an AI writing assistant that uses pre-made content and workflow templates to provide a smooth user experience that supports the creative process. Its extensive library of content templates includes formats for blog articles, product descriptions, email subject lines, and webinar titles. Its workflow template can automate processes like turning a brief into an article or creating a Facebook ad based on a customer persona.
The free plan is limited to 2,000 words per month, but paid plans offer unlimited words.
Type: AI writing tool
Features
- More than 90 content and workflow templates
- Custom brand voices
Pricing
- Free plan available
- Pro: $36 per month
- Team: $39 per user, per month
- Enterprise: Contact for custom pricing
Blackbox
Blackbox can write code and help developers find existing code snippets. It works with multiple programming languages and is accessible via a browser or desktop app. This AI tool also uses an advanced algorithm to understand user needs and offer relevant solutions based on contextual data.
Type: Code generation tool
Features
- Compatible with over 20 programming languages
- Real-time code monitoring
- Intelligent code recommendations
- Code search function
Pricing
- Free
Runway
Runway is an innovative tool that makes it easier to create and edit visually appealing video content. You can generate videos based on text, images, or audio files, add or remove objects, adjust styles, and remove background noise. Runway can also generate animated videos from image sequences, automatically split footage into clips, and translate or transcribe video content.
Type: Video creation tool
Features
- Create videos based on text, video, or image prompts
- AI-powered video editing tools
- Transcription and translation
- Audio cleaning
- Scene detection
Pricing
- Free plan available
- Standard: $12 per month
- Pro: $28 per user, per month
- Unlimited: $76 per user, per month
- Enterprise: Contact for custom pricing
Looka
Looka is an AI tool that helps users with limited design skills develop the visual elements of a brand identity system. You can upload inspiration, see logo options, customize brand logos, and view mockups.
Pricing varies by file types offered and the types of brand collateral you create using the tool. More expensive packages include multiple types of brand collateral, and the top-tier plan includes a custom AI-generated website.
Type: Brand design tool
Features
- Over 300 templates
- Generates unique logo options based on user inputs
- Users can further customize initial logo options
- Enables collateral mockups
Pricing
- Basic logo package: $20
- Premium logo package: $65
- Brand kit subscription: $126
- Brand kit web subscription: $129
Figstack
Figstack is an AI tool that uses a conversational interface to explain code in natural language. It can answer user questions, translate code between programming languages, analyze code efficiency, and write function documentation.
Type: AI coding tool
Features
- Code translation
- Natural language code explanations
- Answers coding questions
- Writes function documentation
- Analyzes code efficiency
Pricing
- Free plan available
- Starter: $9 per month
- Unlimited: $29 per month
DALL-E
DALL-E is OpenAI’s AI image generation tool. It uses the GPT LLM to generate and edit images based on natural language inputs. DALL-E is included with paid versions of ChatGPT.
Type: AI image generator
Features
- NLP capabilities
- Text-to-image generation
- Can add elements to existing images
- Can remove elements from images
- Can create variations by transforming image style
- Access through Plus, Team, or Enterprise ChatGPT plans
Pricing
- Plus: $20 per user per month
- Team: $25 per user per month
- Enterprise: Contact for pricing details
Google Gemini
Formerly Google Bard, Google Gemini is an AI software app that can create content, write code, and assist in research-related tasks. Like the free version of ChatGPT, it can’t access the web in real time. Unlike ChatGPT, it can provide sources to substantiate its responses.
The standard version of Google Gemini is free, and the more advanced version is included with paid Google One plans.
Type: AI chatbot
Features
- NLP capabilities
- Creates visual content
- Research capabilities
- Can cite sources on request
Pricing
- Free plan available
- Advanced: $19 per month
Textio
Textio is an AI-powered HR tool designed to help you hire, retain, and develop a diverse workforce. Textio Lift helps managers provide concise, actionable feedback, and Textio Loop supports the recruiting process with writing suggestions and customizable job post templates.
Both tools are designed to help you eliminate biased language and can identify relevant recruiting and feedback trends, such as differences in feedback volume and type by demographic group.
Type: Recruiting and talent management tool
Features
- Includes analytics
- Multiple integrations
- Job post templates
- Bias identification
- Trend surfacing
Pricing
- Contact team for demo and pricing details
Boost.ai
The Boost.AI chatbot uses NLP technology to respond to customer service questions. It’s designed to support customer self-service, function as an AI customer service agent, and work with human customer service representatives by letting agents personalize responses or use suggested replies.
Type: Customer service chatbot
Features
- Multiple integrations
- Self-service customer supports
- Chat and voice call automation
- Agent assist functions
Pricing
- Contact team for demo
Chatfuel AI
Chatfuel AI helps companies build AI-powered chatbots using the GPT-4 LLM. The application lets customer service and sales teams without coding knowledge build and customize chat tools that can automatically respond to queries, send re-engagement messages, and escalate customer interactions to live agents.
Pricing is based on messages per month.
Type: Customer service and sales chatbot
Features
- Mobile app
- Audience segmentation
- Multiple integrations
- Auto-replies
- Re-engagement functions
Pricing
- Business: $14.99 per month
- Enterprise: Contact team for custom pricing
AI tools FAQ
Is there a free AI tool?
How do you choose which AI tool to use?
Here’s how to choose an AI tool:
- Determine your use case (such as customer service, written content creation, image creation, or research support).
- Evaluate your budget.
- Research AI tools.
- Select your tool.
Are there any challenges with using AI tools?
Some AI tools have steeper learning curves than others. You can maximize benefits to your company by choosing a tool that matches the level of technical experience on your team.
