10 new AI tools that actually support creatives
AI can feel like a threat when it tries to replace your craft. But there's a clear divide between tools that compete with you and tools that work for you.
The tools below cut busywork, sharpen thinking, and give you back hours. None of them finish the job for you. That's exactly why they're useful.
1) Granola: meeting notes and transcription
Long client call. Messy notes. Zero time. Granola turns your transcript and rough notes into a clean, structured summary you can share with the team.
It plugs into Zoom, Teams and Slack, so you don't have to rebuild the conversation from memory. More creating, less admin.
2) Perplexity: research and search
Need credible, current answers fast? Ask Perplexity in plain language and get concise summaries with citations you can check.
It cuts through SEO spam and click-churn, which is clutch for briefs, pitches, and decks. Look prepared without losing a day to tabs. See Perplexity
3) Kagi Translate: language translation
Working across borders? Kagi Translate handles 248+ languages and pays attention to tone and context for common language pairs.
You can tweak formality or style, translate sites or docs, and keep sensitive material private-translations aren't stored on their servers. Good for client feedback, research, and global references.
4) SuperWhisper: voice to text
Ideas hit while you're moving. Speak them. SuperWhisper captures your thoughts and formats them into an email, outline, or brief.
It does more than raw transcription-it understands structure. Available on Mac, Windows, and iOS, so you never lose a good line to a busy day.
5) DeepL Write: writing assistant
Your draft is close, but the tone is off. DeepL Write suggests cleaner phrasing, stronger word choices, and clearer structure.
It goes beyond grammar, which helps if English isn't your first language-or if you're just tired. Works on web, desktop, mobile, and inside tools like Gmail and Word.
6) NotebookLM: research partner
Dozens of PDFs, videos, articles, and transcripts. NotebookLM ingests your sources, answers questions with citations, and helps you connect the dots.
Audio Overview lets you "listen" to the material while you travel. It's like a research assistant that actually knows your project context. Explore NotebookLM
7) Goblin Tools: task breakdown
Big, fuzzy project. Brain stalls. Goblin Tools breaks work into steps, helps phrase tricky emails, and reduces the mental tax of getting started.
Originally built for neurodivergent users, but helpful for anyone who freezes at "plan everything." Free, simple, no ads.
8) ZenQuery: data analysis
Your spreadsheet is a mess. Ask questions in plain English: "Which projects were most profitable last quarter?" or "What invoices are overdue?"
ZenQuery reads your CSV or Excel locally, so your financials stay on your machine. Perfect if you need insights without living in formulas.
9) Syft.ai: news summaries
Stay current without doomscrolling. Syft builds channels for the topics you actually care about, pulls from global sources, translates when needed, and sends clean daily digests.
No duplicates. No fluff. Just the signal, fast-so you can get back to work.
10) Spiral: writing partner
Blank page anxiety? Spiral starts by asking smart questions, then offers multiple angles you can choose from.
Feed it past work to match your voice. Useful for proposals, content drafts, and client emails that need to sound like you on a good day.
How to put this to work
- Pick two tools that solve your biggest bottleneck this week (research, notes, or writing polish).
- Set a 30-minute sandbox session per tool. Test on a real task, not a demo prompt.
- Keep what saves you an hour. Drop what doesn't.
If you want structured training to apply tools like these to creative workflows, explore our resources for writers and designers: Courses by job and AI tools for copywriting.
The goal isn't to replace your craft. It's to protect your time, so the work that carries your name actually gets the attention it deserves.
Your membership also unlocks:
