AI Picks
The AI Toolkit: Best AI Tools for Work in 2026
AI is transforming how we work. These are the tools that actually deliver on the promise, based on our hands-on testing.
By Itai Varochik
AI Assistants & Chat
General-purpose AI for writing, coding, and analysis.
- ChatGPT — The most popular AI assistant for writing, coding, research, and creative projects. (4.7/5)
- Claude — Anthropic's AI assistant known for careful reasoning and long-context processing. (4.6/5)
- Perplexity — AI-powered answer engine that provides sourced, real-time research results. (4.7/5)
AI Image Generation
Create visuals from text prompts.
- DALL-E 3 — OpenAI's image generator integrated into ChatGPT with strong prompt understanding. (4.6/5)
- Midjourney — The premium AI image generator producing the most aesthetically stunning results for creatives and designers. (4.5/5)
- Leonardo AI — AI image platform with fine-tuned models for game assets, illustrations, and more. (4.5/5)
AI Writing & Notes
AI-powered writing assistance and meeting transcription.
AI Research
Academic and deep-web research tools.
- Perplexity AI — AI-powered answer engine that searches the web and provides cited responses. (4.6/5)
- Semantic Scholar — Free AI-powered academic search engine by the Allen Institute for AI. (4.5/5)
Frequently Asked Questions
Which AI tool is best for beginners?
ChatGPT is the most accessible starting point. Its free tier is generous and the interface is intuitive. Claude is a strong alternative for longer, more nuanced conversations.
Are AI image generators good enough for professional use?
Midjourney and DALL-E 3 produce professional-quality images suitable for marketing, social media, and presentations. For photorealistic output, Midjourney leads.
How do you test AI tools?
We evaluate accuracy, speed, context handling, and practical output quality across 50+ standardized prompts covering writing, analysis, coding, and creative tasks.