As the year winds down, we’re taking stock of the amazing AI tools we’ve discovered over the past year. This week and next, we’re sharing our ultimate ‘best of’ list, curated to help you work smarter, live easier, and have more fun.

In this edition, we’re diving into our favorite productivity tools – just what you need to set yourself up for a smooth kickoff to the new year. Let’s get started!

AI Chatbots

ChatGPT may be the most well-known AI chatbot, but it’s far from the only option. After testing several AI assistants, we’re excited to share our top picks. Whether you’re writing, researching, or keeping up with the latest news, there’s a chatbot tailored to your needs.

Let's break down the strengths of each:

ChatGPT: The all-purpose leader handles everything from creative writing to general queries with ease. Now equipped with web browsing, it’s versatile, reliable, and ideal for newcomers and experienced users alike.

Claude: Known for its human-like responses, Claude excels at creative writing, editing, and simplifying complex scientific concepts. A top pick for creative professionals, researchers, and tech enthusiasts.

Gemini: Google’s AI integrates seamlessly with Google Workspace, excelling in tasks like spreadsheet formulas and document automation. Perfect for productivity-focused users.

Perplexity: Leading in real-time information, Perplexity delivers up-to-the-minute news and trending topics through media partnerships. Best for current events and when you need instant, reliable updates.

Our take: While ChatGPT remains our go-to for most tasks, having these alternatives in your AI toolkit can be invaluable. Each brings something unique to the table, and choosing the right one depends on your specific needs – whether that's creative writing with Claude, spreadsheet magic with Gemini, or breaking news with Perplexity.

What's your experience with these AI chatbots? Let us know which one is your favorite and why!

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AI Chat Comparison

Need more help deciding which AI chatbot to trust for your most important tasks?

We’re excited about Choosy Chat – a tool that lets you directly compare responses from different AI models, making it easier to see for yourself which one excels at various tasks.

Created by ex-Google tech entrepreneur Gabor Cselle, Choosy Chat lets you ask any question (or make a request via prompt) and then displays the answers from each AI model side by side. It even judges which response is the best or fastest.

Choosy Chat currently features OpenAI’s GPT-4o, Google’s Gemini 1.5 Pro, and Anthropic’s Claude 3.5 Sonnet, the current performance benchmark leader. We took Choosy Chat for a spin, asking it to evaluate each model’s performance in drafting an email to client about a project.

"Draft a professional email to a client apologizing for a project delay caused by unexpected technical challenges. The email should explain the situation clearly, offer a revised timeline, and propose a video call to discuss next steps."

The test evaluates communication clarity, professional tone and word choice, problem-solving, inclusions of actionable next steps and empathy in handling potentially sensitive situations. GPT-4o was selected as the best for its detailed solution. Anthropic’s Claude was recognized for being the fastest.

Choosy Chat offers a free tier with 5 questions per month, perfect for experimentation, and three paid tiers starting at $5/month, depending on the number of questions you need.

AI Speech-to-Text

AI-powered dictation is transforming the field of fast, efficient transcription—and Flow is leading the way. Team member Justin is a daily user and huge fan of Flow. It doesn't just transcribe; it transforms spoken words into polished text, boosting productivity with features like:

• Lightning-fast transcription: Convert speech to text at up to 230 words per minute—no keyboard can keep up.

• Smart editing: Automatically cleans up your ‘ums’ and ‘ahs’ and adjusts formatting based on context.

• Real-time corrections: Make changes as you speak, and Flow will adapt.

• Seamless integration: Dictate across apps like email, documents, and search, without breaking your flow.

To get started with Flow, download the app and set up your account. Once you've configured your preferences, select your hotkey to enable easy activation. You can then begin dictating seamlessly across your favorite apps, whether writing emails, drafting documents, or searching online.

Flow offers flexible pricing options to fit different needs. You can start with a commitment-free, 14-day free trial to explore the app’s features. For ongoing use, there’s a Basic plan available at no cost with limited functionality, or you can opt for the Pro plan at $15 per month for unlimited transcription capabilities. 

AI Meeting Summaries

Ever left a meeting feeling like your notes were a jumbled mess? We’ve all been there. While Zoom’s AI companion left us wanting more, an app called Granola grabbed our attention.

Picture this: You’re in a meeting, jotting down notes as usual. But behind the scenes, Granola is working its AI magic, listening and transcribing everything. Once the meeting wraps up, it transforms your scribbles into a clear, comprehensive summary.

Here’s what we love about Granola:

•  It enhances your usual note-taking style (no need to change your habits!)

• You can easily fact-check by clicking on any part of the summary to see the original transcript. You can also save the full transcript and share with others.

•  It offers handy templates for different meeting types (think hiring interviews, brainstorming sessions, and pitches).

• The summaries are spot-on, well-organized, and useful.

Granola has become our new favorite work buddy. Want to give it a whirl? Granola is available as a Mac app with a generous free tier (25 meetings per month). After that, it’s $10 per user per month.

Say goodbye to cryptic notes and hello to crystal-clear meeting summaries. Your future self will thank you.

AI NotebookLM

Do you like listening to podcasts? In September, Google’s experimental AI research assistant, NotebookLM, introduced a feature called Audio Overview— and we (along with many others) were instantly hooked.

Audio Overview features two AI-generated hosts that break down complex topics and analyze your uploaded documents in real time, making the learning process more engaging.

How it works:

• Go to NotebookLM and create a new notebook (there’s no cost).

• Upload sources, including Word docs, PDFs, URLs, or text.

• Click "Generate" in the Notebook guide to start the Audio Overview.

• Two AI hosts will audibly summarize and discuss your content, complete with thoughtful insights and back-and-forth dialogue.

• Download the audio and listen anywhere.

Our friend and tech enthusiast Cyrus Johnson tested the feature by uploading the U.S. Constitution, resulting in a lively, insightful discussion between the AI hosts. You can listen to it here.

Google recently upgraded NotebookLM with a new interface and now has the ability to engage directly with the hosts.  NotebookLM’s Audio Overview adds a new dimension to personalized learning, all while keeping your data secure—so rest assured, it’s never used to train the system.

AI in the News (in case you missed it)

• Harvard releases massive free AI training data set. Read here. 

• Artificial Intelligence wants to go nuclear. Will it work? Read here.

• Why AI advancement could be slowing down. Watch here.

• Madonna faces backlash after posting AI images of her and Pope Francis. Read here.

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Here.Now.AI Editorial team: Lori, Justin, and Lisa