icon

article

23 AI Productivity Tools to Revolutionize Your Workflow

<- Back to All Articles

Share

Try DigitalOcean for free

Click below to sign up and get $200 of credit to try our products over 60 days!Sign up

The rise of AI tools is changing how quickly we can get things done, helping people breeze through professional and personal tasks. GitHub Copilot offers developers on-the-fly code suggestions, turning tough programming sessions into smoother sailing. For personal use, Zapier backs up your family photos to the cloud whenever you add new ones to a folder, automatically safeguarding your digital memories.

AI isn’t just about speeding things up; it’s also about working smarter. It’s changing jobs, shaking up how we think about work, and giving us back some free time in the process. Our 2023 Currents report, surveying over 660 employees, entrepreneurs, and founders in the tech industry, found that 45% of respondents feel AI and machine learning tools make their jobs easier. An additional 27% noted that these innovations allow them to focus on more important tasks. This article explores 23 AI productivity tools—from smart chatbots to savvy research helpers and creative design aids—to improve your workflow and get more done in less time.

What are AI productivity tools?

AI productivity tools are software applications that use artificial intelligence to help us complete tasks more quickly and with less effort. They can range from smart assistants that organize our emails to algorithms that can predict the next line of code we might need to write. Although they’re not always labeled as “productivity” tools, their main purpose is to streamline our work and personal tasks, making our days more efficient.

Benefits of AI productivity tools

AI productivity tools offer innovative ways to tackle everyday challenges in the workplace and beyond. By simplifying complex or mundane tasks, these tools boost productivity and pave the way for more strategic and creative thinking.

  • Automation of repetitive tasks. AI tools can take over routine tasks, from email sorting to meeting scheduling, using machine learning and natural language processing.

  • Improved productivity. AI-driven productivity apps cut down the time spent on manual tasks while speeding up information processing.

  • Enhanced decision-making. AI tools can sift through large datasets to uncover patterns and trends, providing valuable insights that aid in making informed decisions.

  • Streamlined workflows. By integrating various tasks and information sources, AI tools ensure that workflows are smooth and efficient.

Challenges of AI productivity tools

While AI productivity tools offer numerous advantages, they also come with their own set of challenges that can impact their implementation and effectiveness. Understanding these challenges is crucial for businesses that want to harness AI.

  • Integration with other tools. AI productivity tools face integration challenges when introduced into an organization’s existing digital ecosystem, which can be a complex network of software and systems. These challenges may disrupt workflows and require extra effort to rectify.

  • Hallucination, bias, and inaccuracies. Outputs from AI tools can suffer from ‘hallucinations’ or fabrications, as well as biases present in the training data. To ensure the tools remain credible and reliable, exercise constant oversight to prevent issues like plagiarism and data inaccuracies.

  • Steep learning curve. The complexity of new AI productivity apps can be daunting, requiring training for new users. Overcoming this barrier to adoption requires organizations to dedicate resources to training programs that enable effective use of AI capabilities.

  • Privacy concerns. Using AI tools in the workplace can raise issues related to data privacy, as these applications often need access to sensitive information. Users and organizations should be cautious about data misuse and to ensure AI tools meet privacy regulations.

Top 23 AI productivity tools

AI productivity tools offer innovative ways to tackle daily tasks more efficiently. Here are 23 standout AI solutions for automating your tasks and speeding up your workflows:

1. ChatGPT

image alt text

ChatGPT is an AI chatbot created by OpenAI, designed to engage in natural, human-like conversations and assist with a range of tasks by processing and generating language-based responses. It composes coherent and contextually relevant text, such as emails, essays, and code, making it a versatile tool for both personal and professional use. The platform is accessible to the public, with both a free version and a paid subscription model, ChatGPT Plus The latter provides users with premium features including priority access to newer language models and improved response times.

Key features include:

  • Plugin functionality. Integrate specialized plugins that allow it to interact with external APIs and databases, expanding its knowledge base and enabling it to provide information that is not natively stored in its own training data.

  • Code generation and interpretation. Write and debug simple code in various programming languages, serving as a tool for developers to brainstorm or troubleshoot coding issues.

  • Language support. Supports multiple languages, making it accessible to a global user base and allowing for cross-language conversations and content generation.

💡Example use case:

  • Use ChatGPT to analyze and summarize lengthy business reports; simply upload the PDF to the platform, and it can generate an executive summary, highlighting key insights and actionable items, which can then be used in meetings or for informing strategic decisions.

2. Claude

image alt text

Claude is the latest iteration of a conversational AI developed by Anthropic, designed to provide improved interaction capabilities, enhanced performance, and extended memory over its predecessors. This AI model is available through an API and a public-facing beta website called claude.ai, aiming to be a friendly and helpful assistant for a wide range of tasks. With a focus on safety and user-friendliness, Claude 2 can be used for reasoning, language understanding, and content creation.

Key features include:

  • Extended memory. The Claude 2.1 model can handle up to 200K tokens per prompt, enabling it to process and generate content over large documents or even entire books.

  • System prompts. Use a system prompt to direct Claude with specific tasks, roles, tone, context, creativity guidelines, external information, compliance rules, and output credibility checks.

  • Safety measures. Anthropic has implemented robust safety features and an internal red-teaming evaluation to ensure that Claude 2 is less prone to generating harmful outputs.

💡Example use case:

  • Use Claude in a customer support scenario to promptly and courteously handle routine inquiries and troubleshooting, while escalating more complex issues to your human support team members.

3. Bard AI

image alt text

Bard is an experimental conversational AI service developed by Google, powered by its Language Model for Dialogue Applications (LaMDA). It’s designed to provide high-quality, fresh responses by drawing information from the web. Bard attributes direct lengthy quotes to the source webpage and offers users the ability to view and potentially click through to the original source via URLs or image thumbnails for verification and further exploration.

Key features include:

  • Web-powered knowledge. Bard uses information from the web to offer up-to-date, relevant answers.

  • Fact checking. The system cross-references information from sources to check facts in search results and knowledge panels. It can flag questionable claims and upgrade credible information to curb misinformation.

  • Multilingual detection. Bard analyzes content in over 100 languages through machine translation and human review teams who are native speakers, expanding global coverage.

💡Example use case:

  • Use Bard to add research with credible sources to your next work presentation; input your query into the platform, and it can provide detailed explanations, reference direct quotes, and display URLs, allowing you to delve deeper into the content and verify the information.

4. Descript

image alt text

Descript is a powerful audio and video editing platform that integrates AI to streamline the content creation and editing process. Edit media files through transcribed text, rather than fiddling with the audio file. The tool is easy to use and includes advanced features, making it a go-to solution for podcasters, journalists, and video producers.

Key features include:

  • Overdub and voice cloning. Mimic voices and insert new audio into recordings with typed text to correct errors or update content.

  • AI green screen video editing. Remove and replace video backgrounds without needing a physical green screen, all with a simple one-click.

  • AI-powered transcription. Convert spoken language into editable text quickly, enabling efficient content editing and repurposing.

💡Example use case:

  • Use Descript to elevate your company’s internal communications by recording audio or video updates or announcements; use the tool to remove background noise, edit out unnecessary filler words, and provide transcriptions, ensuring your team receives clear and polished audio messages.

5. Jasper

image alt text

Jasper is an AI-powered writing assistant designed to help users generate high-quality content quickly and efficiently. The tool uses advanced language processing algorithms to create text for a variety of purposes, from marketing copy to blog posts. It is tailored for content creators, marketers, and business owners who need to produce large volumes of written content with less time investment.

Key features include:

  • Content generation. Generate original, creative content based on user prompts and a set of parameters.

  • Language model tuning. Tailor the AI’s writing style and tone to match specific brand guidelines or content goals.

  • Multi-language support. Create content in multiple languages, catering to a global audience or localized markets.

💡Example use case:

  • Use Jasper to draft SEO-friendly blog posts for your company’s blog to drive organic web traffic to your website; use their style and tone features to match your brand voice.

6. Writesonic

image alt text

Writesonic is a set of AI-powered content generation tools designed to help marketers create high-quality copy for digital ads, blog posts, emails, and websites. It uses advanced language models to produce content that is engaging and tailored to the specific needs of your audience. Their writing tool portfolio includes a paraphrasing tool, text summarizer, story generator, text expander, and landing page generator.

Key features include:

  • Diverse content templates. Choose from a wide range of pre-built templates for different types of content—from social media posts to full-length articles.

  • Marketing copy generation. Create compelling ad copy, product descriptions, and other marketing materials that are designed to convert.

  • SEO optimization. Build-in keyword optimization, along with the ability to add custom keywords, ensures you achieve higher search rankings more quickly.

💡Example use case:

  • Try Writesonic to quickly generate several versions of a landing page for a new product campaign using their landing page generator, allowing for easier A/B testing.

7. Hypotenuse AI

image alt text

Hypotenuse AI is an AI-powered writing assistant and text generator designed to help create content that reflects a user’s unique brand and voice. It offers SEO-optimized, well-researched content across various types, from blog articles to social media posts. The platform promises to save time and improve the quality of your content with 20+ content types to choose from, including blog articles, product descriptions, and social media ads.

Key features include:

  • API integrations. Link your account directly to your Shopify storefront or WordPress website.

  • SEO and plagiarism tools. Ensure your content is optimized for search engines and is plagiarism-free.

  • Bulk content creation. Produce large volumes of content quickly and efficiently with the AI bulk generator feature.

💡Example use case:

  • Use Hypotenuse AI to generate hundreds of unique, on-brand product descriptions for your e-commerce site, ensuring they’re all keyword-optimized.

8. QuillBot

image alt text

QuillBot is an AI-powered writing and research platform that offers a suite of tools to help users refine their writing, summarize articles, and research topics. Its primary function is as a paraphrasing tool, which allows writers to input text and have it rephrased to improve clarity, prevent plagiarism, and vary language. QuillBot is widely used by students and academics, with tailored research features like its citation generator

Key features include:

  • Paraphrasing tool. Rewrite existing sentences, paragraphs, or articles using AI to maintain the original meaning while altering the phrasing and structure.

  • Grammar checker. Identify and correct grammatical errors to improve the overall quality of writing.

  • Summarizer. Condense articles, documents, and lengthy pieces of text into shorter versions, capturing key points and main ideas.

💡Example use case:

  • Use QuillBot’s built-in research tab to look up academic papers for your next project and cite sources automatically, without jumping from tab to tab.

9. Grammarly

image alt text

Grammarly is a digital writing assistant that uses AI algorithms to improve the quality of your writing by checking for various types of errors—from basic spelling mistakes to more complex grammar. Designed to improve clarity, coherence, and overall readability, Grammarly is useful for anyone who writes, whether they’re students or professionals. The platform offers suggestions in real-time and can be integrated across different web apps and text editors, like Google Docs.

Key features include:

  • Real-time grammar checking. Detect and suggest corrections for grammar, punctuation, and spelling errors as you type.

  • Style and tone adjustments. Provide recommendations on writing style and tone to ensure the text matches the intended audience and purpose.

  • Plagiarism detection. Scan texts against academic and web sources to ensure originality and prevent unintentional plagiarism.

💡Example use case:

  • A copywriter can use Grammarly to refine an advertising script by running it through the tool’s checks, ensuring the copy is error-free and strikes the right tone.

10. Midjourney

image alt text

Midjourney is a text-to-image generation tool developed by an independent research institute, designed to transform written descriptions into high-quality visual content. The tool operates through a Discord bot, allowing users to input text prompts which the AI then interprets to create images. It caters to both non-commercial and commercial users, offering a range of subscription options

Key features include:

  • Discord integration. Midjourney works with Discord, making it easily accessible for a wide range of users.

  • Creative command customization. Users can tailor the AI’s output using simple prompts to adjust style, composition, and detail.

  • Quick generation process. AI Midjourney can produce complex 3D visualizations in under 30 seconds.

💡Example use case:

  • An illustrator could use Midjourney to quickly brainstorm concepts for their next project, saving time with rapid visualization and providing them with a jump-off point for manual creative work.

11. DALL·E 3

image alt text

DALL·E 3 is an AI image generation model developed by OpenAI that creates original, high-resolution images and art from text descriptions. This tool is particularly useful for artists, designers, and content creators who need to visualize concepts or generate a variety of visual content without the constraints of traditional mediums.

Key features include:

  • Photorealistic outputs. The AI has enhanced its ability to produce photorealistic images, making it possible to generate pictures that closely resemble real-life photographs.

  • Outpainting capability. Expand an image beyond its original borders, creating larger scenes and landscapes that maintain the style of the initial picture**.**

  • Variation and iteration. Generate multiple image variations from a single prompt to explore different creative directions.

💡Example use case:

  • A graphic designer can use DALL·E 3 to rapidly prototype a series of book cover designs by inputting descriptive text into the model, allowing them to present a range of visual options to a client for feedback before moving on to the design phase.

12. Runway

image alt text

Runway is an AI software platform that offers creators the tools to use machine learning models easily and intuitively for a variety of creative tasks, including video editing, image generation, and more. Runway is designed to make AI accessible to artists, designers, and video editors without requiring them to have a background in coding or machine learning.

Key features include:

  • Generative models. Use cutting-edge AI models to generate images, videos, and animations from textual descriptions or from modifying existing content.

  • Video editing. Offers AI-powered tools for tasks such as green-screen removal, style transfer, and depth estimation in videos.

  • Plugin integrations. Integrate with other software suites like Adobe Premiere Pro for a seamless workflow, enhancing traditional creative tools with AI capabilities.

💡Example use case:

  • A filmmaker can use Runway to quickly prototype visual effects in their footage, such as changing the scene’s lighting or weather, without the need for expensive and time-consuming traditional VFX software. This allows for rapid iteration and experimentation at a fraction of the usual cost and effort.

13. Paperspace

image alt text

Paperspace by DigitalOcean is a cloud-based platform that provides access to powerful computing resources on demand, enabling developers, data scientists, and AI researchers to run complex machine learning models and high-intensity workloads. It offers a suite of tools designed to streamline the development process, including GPUs for rent. Paperspace has a user-friendly interface, which lowers the barrier to entry for anyone seeking the power of advanced computational hardware.

Key features include:

  • Low-cost GPUs. Save up to 70% on compute costs compared to the major public clouds or buying your own servers.

  • Managed ML ops platform. Simplify machine learning workflows with tools for deploying, managing, and scaling AI projects.

  • Collaborative development. Facilitate team collaboration with shared workspaces, notebooks, and resources in a unified environment.

💡Example use case:

  • A data scientist can use Paperspace to train a complex deep learning model on a large dataset by leveraging the platform’s powerful GPUs, reducing the training time and enabling them to iterate on model improvements more rapidly.

14. Zapier

image alt text

Zapier is an online automation tool that connects your favorite apps, such as Gmail, Slack, Mailchimp, and more, helping you to automate repetitive tasks without coding or relying on developers to build the integration. It moves information between your web apps automatically, so you can focus on your most important work. The platform is particularly useful for non-technical users and businesses looking to streamline workflows and enhance efficiency by creating automated sequences known as Zaps.

Key features include:

  • App integration. Connect and combine over 2,000 web apps to create custom workflows suited to individual business needs.

  • Interfaces. Craft web pages, forms, and simple applications to drive the essential processes of your business.

  • No-code customization. Create and customize automations easily with a user-friendly interface that requires no programming skills.

💡Example use case:

  • A marketing manager can set up a Zap to automatically add new email subscribers from a campaign landing page to a CRM and a corresponding email marketing list, improving lead management and follow-up communications without manual data entry.

15. Perplexity AI

image alt text

Perplexity AI is a conversational AI designed to answer questions, explain complex topics, and have detailed discussions with users. With its ability to understand context and generate human-like text responses, Perplexity AI provides users with an intuitive experience. It’s particularly useful for educators, students, researchers, and anyone in need of quick, reliable explanations of intricate subjects.

Key features include:

  • Conversational understanding. Engage with users through natural, context-aware dialogues that facilitate in-depth discussions and explanations.

  • Knowledge-rich responses. Provide detailed answers and explanations sourced from a broad knowledge base, covering a wide array of topics.

  • Interactive learning. Assist users in exploring topics by asking clarifying questions and suggesting related areas of interest for further exploration.

💡Example use case:

  • A student can ask Perplexity AI to clarify a complex concept in math or physics, and the AI can guide them through the subject matter with a series of interactive, informative responses, helping them better understand the subject.

16. GitHub Copilot

image alt text

GitHub Copilot is an AI-powered code completion tool that helps programmers write code faster and with fewer errors. It suggests whole lines or blocks of code as developers type, learning from the context within the editor. Copilot is powered by a language model trained on a dataset of public source code, making it a powerful assistant for writing scripts, functions, and entire applications across different programming languages and frameworks.

Key features include:

  • Context-aware code suggestions. Offers code completions that adapt to the coding style and context of the project.

  • Support for many languages and frameworks. Works with a wide array of programming languages and frameworks, providing relevant suggestions.

  • Learning from the user. Improves suggestions over time by learning from the individual developer’s code patterns and preferences.

💡Example use case:

  • A developer can use GitHub Copilot to quickly code a new feature in their application by accepting AI-generated code snippets that conform to their coding style, reducing the time spent on boilerplate code and allowing them to focus on unique aspects of their implementation.

17. Notion AI

image alt text

Notion AI is an artificial intelligence feature integrated into the Notion workspace, which improves the platform’s capabilities by assisting users in answering questions, generating content, and autofilling tables within their Notion pages. It uses AI to help users brainstorm, write, and edit documents, as well as manage tasks and projects more efficiently. Notion AI is designed for individual users, teams, and organizations that use Notion as their all-in-one workspace.

Key features include:

  • Content creation and brainstorming. Generate ideas, create drafts, and expand on thoughts with AI-powered writing and brainstorming tools.

  • Summarization and organization. Summarize long pieces of text and organize information into structured outlines or notes for easier reading and reference.

  • Task automation. Improve workflows by automating routine tasks and organizing content within your Notion pages.

💡Example use case:

  • A project manager can use Notion AI to consolidate meeting notes into concise summaries, generate task lists from those summaries, and distribute action items among team members.

18. Julius AI

image alt text

Julius AI is an advanced data analysis platform designed to interpret and analyze structured data through natural language prompts, making it a virtual data analyst. It simplifies the process of data visualization and complex analysis, such as regression modeling and projections, with the capability to create dynamic data animations.

Key features include:

  • Natural language analysis. Julius AI allows users to ask questions directly and receive analysis as if speaking with a human analyst.

  • Data visualization generation. It can generate sophisticated data visualizations from simple instructions.

  • Advanced analytical tools. The platform performs complex tasks like linear regression and data modeling with ease.

💡Example use case:

  • A data scientist at a tech company could utilize Julius AI to quickly analyze customer behavior data and generate visual trends to disperse to the wider team.

19. Otter

image alt text

Otter is an AI-driven transcription service that converts spoken words into written text with high accuracy. It is particularly useful for professionals who require transcription services, such as journalists, students, researchers, or businesses that need to document meetings and presentations. Otter.ai is designed to capture and recognize speech from various sources and provide real-time transcriptions that users can edit, annotate, and share.

Key features include:

  • Real-time transcription. Transcribe speech as it happens, providing immediate access to written records of lectures, meetings, interviews, or any spoken content.

  • Speaker identification. Differentiate between speakers in a conversation for meeting notes and interview transcripts.

  • Audio and text synchronization. Allow users to playback the audio recording and see the corresponding text highlight in sync, which is helpful for reviewing and editing transcripts.

💡Example use case:

  • A team conducting a remote meeting can use Otter.ai to record and transcribe the session in real time, enabling participants to focus on the discussion rather than taking detailed notes. After the meeting, the transcript can be shared among team members, who can then highlight important points, add comments, and assign action items directly within Otter.

20. Reclaim AI

image alt text

Reclaim AI is a scheduling app for team efficiency, offering a smart calendar that optimizes time for improved productivity, collaboration, and work-life balance. The app aims to streamline scheduling by integrating various work tools and providing analytics for better time management.

Key features include:

  • Automated task scheduling. Syncs with your task list for optimized daily planning.

  • Focus time protection. Guard against meeting overruns and secures time for deep work.

  • Time tracking report. Connect your calendar to see how you spent your time at work over the past 12 weeks.

💡Example use case:

  • A project manager at a tech company could use Reclaim AI to automatically block out no-meeting days, ensuring dedicated time for their team to focus on software development milestones.

21. Consensus

image alt text

Consensus is an AI-powered search engine designed for delving into research papers to extract valuable insights. It has a vast database, including over 200 million scientific documents, and employs AI to provide instant summaries and relevant answers to research queries. The platform is used by academics and professionals to directly cite peer-reviewed studies.

Key features include:

  • Extensive scientific coverage. Consensus allows for expansive searches across numerous scientific papers.

  • Credible, source-cited results. The search engine ties all results back to their original studies without displaying ads.

  • Instant analysis of data. It leverages advanced AI to quickly summarize and clarify research findings.

💡Example use case:

  • A graduate student can use Consensus to instantly find expert information on their research topic for a working paper.

22. Socratic

image alt text

Socratic is an educational app designed to assist students across a range of subjects including science, math, literature, and social studies. Using AI text and speech recognition technology, Socratic provides visual explanations of complex concepts and guides learners to the most relevant resources. The app clarifies challenging topics and elevates students’ understanding.

Key features include:

  • Supports multiple platforms. Get support on a diverse range of academic disciplines on both iOS and Android.

  • Voice support. As Socratic questions through the app’s audio to text feature.

  • Google AI integration. Socratic uses advanced AI to deliver precise and relevant educational content.

💡Example use case:

  • A software engineering student could use Socratic to quickly grasp the fundamentals of a new programming language by accessing concise explanations and relevant coding examples.

23. Slides AI

image alt text

SlidesAI is an AI tool designed to automate the process of creating professional presentation slides. It integrates with Google Slides, enabling users to transform text into a visually engaging presentation in seconds. With support for multiple languages and a user-friendly interface, SlidesAI simplifies the task of slide creation to convey your message more quickly.

Key features include:

  • Text to presentation automation. SlidesAI converts input text into a complete presentation effortlessly.

  • Customizable design templates. Users can personalize presentations using pre-designed color and font presets.

  • Multilingual support. The tool accommodates over 100 languages, boosting its global usability.

💡Example use case:

  • A product manager at a tech company could use SlidesAI to quickly create a presentation for their upcoming app feature by inputting the feature’s description, saving time for more strategic tasks.

Accelerate your AI projects with DigitalOcean GPU Droplets

Unlock the power of NVIDIA H100 GPUs for your AI and machine learning projects. DigitalOcean GPU Droplets offer on-demand access to high-performance computing resources, enabling developers, startups, and innovators to train models, process large datasets, and scale AI projects without complexity or large upfront investments

Key features:

  • Powered by NVIDIA H100 GPUs with 640 Tensor Cores and 128 Ray Tracing Cores

  • Flexible configurations from single-GPU to 8-GPU setups

  • Pre-installed Python and Deep Learning software packages

  • High-performance local boot and scratch disks included

Sign up today and unlock the possibilities of GPU Droplets. For custom solutions, larger GPU allocations, or reserved instances, contact our sales team to learn how DigitalOcean can power your most demanding AI/ML workloads.

Share

Try DigitalOcean for free

Click below to sign up and get $200 of credit to try our products over 60 days!Sign up

Related Resources

Articles

16 Best AI Coding Assistants to Boost Your Engineering Productivity in 2024

Articles

AI vs Gen AI: Unraveling the Distinction

Articles

7 Types of AI Agents to Automate Your Workflows in 2024

Get started for free

Sign up and get $200 in credit for your first 60 days with DigitalOcean.*

*This promotional offer applies to new accounts only.