AI technology continues to advance at a rapid rate and is being increasingly integrated into various aspects of our lives. One area where AI has made significant strides is in AI productivity tools. These AI tools leverage AI algorithms and machine learning to streamline tasks, automate processes, and ultimately boost productivity.
It’s no secret that individuals and businesses of all sizes are striving for greater agility and increased efficiency, and the role of achieving these goals is becoming increasingly important.
2023 has been a pivotal year for the adoption of AI, fueled by the meteoric rise of ChatGPT, the poster child of this new technological revolution.
I had begun to explore the OpenAI API functionality in the months before ChatGPT launched and have been following the explosion of AI tools in the time since.
This is a collection of the best productivity boosting AI tools in 2023 that made it into my bookmark folder.
While these AI productivity tools haven’t all had a full-feature test, it’s simply my list of AI tool reviews about applications that caught my attention, outside of the leading AI companies.
6 AI Applications Beyond the Industry Giants
- Jasper (Formerly Jarvis): On-Brand AI Content Generation
Best for: Freelancers, marketers, and entrepreneurs needing AI to automate content creation in their brand voice.
Pros: Adapts content to user’s brand voice, unlimited words, 50+ templates (customizable).
Cons: May struggle with technical topics, fact-checking required, potential content repetition.
Jasper AI Price: Free 7-day trial; paid plans start at $39 per month with annual billing – https://www.jasper.ai/pricing
- RunwayML: AI Video Editing Made Simple
Best for: Anyone wanting to edit videos quickly and easily, without needing complex software.
Pros: Automates tedious tasks like stabilization and color correction, green screen effects, AI-powered scene transitions.
Cons: Limited features compared to professional editing software, may not be suitable for advanced editing needs.
RunwayML Price: Free plan with limited features; paid plans start at $12.00 per month with annual billing – https://runwayml.com/pricing/
- DeepL: The AI Translator that Understands Context
Best for: Accurate and natural-sounding translations in over 70 languages.
Pros: Goes beyond word-for-word translation, considers context and nuances, maintains style and tone.
Cons: Free version has limitations, paid versions can be expensive for frequent translators.
DeepL Price: Free basic version; paid plans start at $8.74 per month with annual billing – https://www.deepl.com/en/pro
- Otter.ai: AI Transcription and Meeting Notes Reinvented
Best for: Businesses and individuals who need to record and transcribe meetings or interviews.
Pros: Real-time transcription, searchable notes, captures on-screen slides, summaries for late attendees.
Cons: Transcriptions may not be 100% accurate, doesn’t remove filler words, per-user pricing.
Otter.ai Price: Free version with 300 minutes; paid plans start at $10.00 per user per month with annual billing – https://otter.ai/pricing
- Beautiful.ai: Smart Slide Presentations
Best for: Professionals looking for a quick and easy way to create high-quality presentations.
Pros: Hundreds of pre-built slides, AI-assisted design, custom templates, viewer analytics.
Cons: Limited flexibility when moving assets, no integration with other office applications, no editing slides after export.
Beautiful.ai Price: Free trial; paid plans start at $12 per month with annual billing – https://www.beautiful.ai/pricing
- Copy.ai: AI Content Generator for Various Formats
Best for: Anyone needing marketing content like blog posts, ad copy, or social media captions.
Pros: Over 90 tools and templates, long- and short-form content creation, supercharge mode with URL input, custom templates.
Cons: Limited customization options
Copy AI Price: Free for individuals; paid plans start at $49 per month with annual billing – https://www.copy.ai/prices
While this is far from an exhaustive list, the landscape of AI productivity tools presents us with unique new opportunities to enhance our workflow and efficiency. Whether you’re a content creator looking to expedite article crafting with Jasper, a video editor seeking simplicity from RunwayML, a translator aiming for contextual accuracy with DeepL, a professional in need of precise transcription from Otter.ai, or a busy executive crafting smart presentations on Beautiful.ai – these tools are reshaping the way we approach our tasks.
While they may have their limitations, the overarching benefit is clear: these AI instruments reduce the manual load, freeing up valuable time for strategic thinking and creativity, the human touchpoints AI cannot replicate. As these technologies evolve and our understanding of their capabilities deepens, we stand on the cusp of a productivity revolution that will redefine professional landscapes across the board. The key to maximizing these tools lies in a strategic balance between AI capabilities and human expertise.