Top 7 AI Tools of The Quarter
Let’s be honest: keeping up with AI right now feels a bit like trying to drink from a firehose. Every week there’s a new "ChatGPT killer" or a tool that promises to fold your laundry. It’s exhausting.
But amidst the hype, there are some actual gems—tools that don't just look cool in a demo but actually save you time today. I’ve tested the latest batch, and these 7 are the ones I’m actually keeping in my bookmarks bar.
1. TinyWow
The "I Can't Believe This is Free" Tool
What is it? Think of this as your digital Swiss Army Knife. It’s a massive collection of free tools to edit PDFs, convert files, remove backgrounds from images, and more.
Why you'll love it: There is no friction. You don't need to sign up, you don't need to pay, and there are no annoying watermarks. You just upload your file, do the thing (like signing a PDF or converting a video to a GIF), and download it.
The catch: It’s almost too simple. If you need professional-grade editing (like layers in Photoshop), this isn't it. Also, for privacy, they delete files after an hour—which is actually a good thing, but means you better download your work fast!
Best for: Students and office workers who just need to "fix" a file quickly without creating another account.
2. Gamma AI
The "Death to Boring PowerPoint" Tool
What is it? A presentation generator that actually has good taste. You type in a topic (e.g., "History of Coffee" or "Q3 Marketing Strategy"), and it builds a slide deck, document, or webpage for you.
Why you'll love it: It breaks the mold of the standard, ugly slide templates we’ve been using since 2010. The layouts are modern, flexible, and responsive. You can rewrite text or swap images with a single click.
The catch: The AI writes decent text, but it’s not perfect. You will absolutely need to fact-check it and tweak the tone to sound like you rather than a robot.
Best for: Students with a deadline in 30 minutes, or professionals who need a starting draft for a meeting.
3. Excel Formula Bot
The "Spreadsheet Wizard"
What is it? It’s a translator. You type what you want to do in plain English (e.g., "Sum column A if column B says 'Paid'"), and it spits out the exact Excel or Google Sheets formula you need.
Why you'll love it: If you’ve ever stared at a spreadsheet crying because you forgot how
VLOOKUPworks, this is a lifesaver. It works both ways, too—you can paste a confusing formula, and it will explain what it does in English.The catch: It handles logic well, but it doesn't know your specific data. If your spreadsheet is messy, the formula might not work instantly. You still need to know roughly what you’re doing.
Best for: Anyone who lists "Proficient in Excel" on their resume but secretly Googles every formula.
4. Emergent AI
The "Code-Free Creator"
What is it? A mind-bending tool that lets you create simple software, websites, and mini-games just by describing them.
Why you'll love it: You can literally type "Make a Mario clone where the character is a cat," and it generates a playable game or a functional app. It’s a glimpse into a future where you don't need to know Python to build a computer program.
The catch: These are simple apps. Don't expect to build the next Grand Theft Auto or a secure banking app with this. It’s mostly for fun, prototypes, or very basic utilities.
Best for: Tech enthusiasts and creative minds who want to see their ideas come to life instantly.
5. Supercook
The "What’s for Dinner?" Solver
What is it? A reverse recipe search engine. Instead of searching for a dish and going shopping, you tell it what ingredients you currently have, and it tells you what you can make.
Why you'll love it: It saves money and reduces food waste. You can select everything in your fridge—even that weird jar of artichokes—and it will find a recipe that uses them. The "pantry" feature remembers what you have so you don't have to re-enter it every time.
The catch: It relies on user-generated recipes from around the web, so quality can vary. Sometimes it suggests a recipe where you have the main ingredients but are missing the spices.
Best for: Home cooks, students on a budget, and anyone trying to clear out their fridge.
6. LALAL.AI
The "Audio Magician"
What is it? A specialized AI that splits audio and video files. It can take a song and separate the vocals from the music, or pull the drums out of a track.
Why you'll love it: The quality is surprisingly clean. In the past, removing vocals left a weird robotic "underwater" sound. LALAL.AI is crisp. It’s incredible for making karaoke tracks or sampling instruments for remixes.
The catch: It is a freemium service. You can try it for free, but if you want to process high-quality files or long tracks, you’ll need to pay.
Best for: YouTubers, music producers, and karaoke fans.
7. Gemini (Mobile)
The "Smartest Assistant on Your Phone"
What is it? Google’s AI assistant that lives on your phone (especially powerful on Android). It’s not just a chatbot; it can "see" what’s on your screen.
Why you'll love it: You can be looking at a PDF, a webpage, or a video, invoke Gemini, and ask, "Where is this place?" or "Summarize this article." It integrates with your Google apps (Maps, Flights, Hotels) to actually get things done, like planning a trip.
The catch: It’s still evolving. Sometimes it hallucinates (makes things up), and it can occasionally conflict with the old "Google Assistant" features you might be used to.
Best for: Android users who want a true personal assistant, not just a search bar.
🙋 Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Q: Are these AI tools safe to use? A: generally, yes. Tools like TinyWow and Supercook are very safe. However, always be careful when uploading sensitive personal or work documents to any AI service. If it's a confidential legal contract, maybe think twice before uploading it to a free server.
Q: Can I use these for free? A: Most of the tools on this list have a generous free tier (TinyWow and Supercook are entirely free). Others like Gamma and LALAL.AI operate on a "credit" system where you get some free use before needing to pay.
Q: Will using these tools affect my SEO? A: If you use AI to write content (like with Gamma), make sure you edit it. Google likes content written for humans by humans. Using AI for research or formatting is fine, but copy-pasting raw AI text can hurt your rankings if it's low quality.
Q: Which is better: ChatGPT or Gemini? A: It depends on what you need! ChatGPT is often considered better for creative writing and coding. Gemini wins on integration—it knows your Google Docs, your emails, and can see your screen, making it better for "daily life" tasks.
There you have it—7 tools to make your quarter a little more productive. Which one are you trying first?